PORT ARANSAS, Texas — Tripadvisor.com has named Port Aransas as one of the best beaches in Texas, calling people from across the state.
This year, the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce is projecting thousands will visit in the next two weeks, bringing with them money to improve the community.
President & CEO of the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce Brett Stawar said more than 350,000 people come across the ferry to Port A in the month of March.
That number, however, is from a year ago, and the Chamber of Commerce is forecasting it’ll see about the same volume of people this year.
“We’re going to see large crowds of families and college students come into town. That ratio is 60 percent families, 40 percent college kids,” said Stawar.
To manage, the city of Port Aransas has regulations in place. Stawar said the beaches will close at 6 p.m. and they will not allow alcohol on the beach after 6 p.m.
Owner of Life in Paradise property rentals Steve Dewitt said those interested in renting property in Port Aransas for the break must be at least 25 years old.
“Three to four miles south of Port Aransas, there (are) some nice neighborhoods where we manage a lot of nice properties and condos,” said Dewitt.
Life in Paradise Property rentals has 360 rental properties in Port Aransas.
For the week ahead, he said 85 percent of properties are occupied.
As for his golf cart business, Dewitt expects the younger crowd will be renting and driving them off to the beach
“All the way down to access road 1A is going to be predominately families, versus when you go south of 1A you’ll find the spring breakers,” he said.
As a coastal city, when tourists who spend money on golf carts, food and rentals, the money goes right back to the city of Port Aransas.
“We are welcoming in five new different eateries over the past year. Some have reopened with tripled space,” Stawar said.
Looking at the Life in Paradise data, the highest occupancy days next week are Monday through Thursday, because of the warmer weather.
