For the fourth consecutive month, Asheville has reported more un-booked hotel rooms than for the same period last year.
According to the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (TDA), hotel occupancy was down two points in August from the same month last year. Similarly, vacation rentals were also down, dropping 10 points from the same time last year and 14 points from August 2019.
The numbers are sparking some concerns among tourism leaders and business owners.
Anthony Cerrato is the owner of Strada Italiano in downtown Asheville. Like others, he cited concerns about crime and homelessness as issues that may be taking away from all the city has to offer.
“There’s an overlying shadow,” he suggests, “interrupting a lot of that stuff. Crime rates are up. All these things taken into effect have created issues that need to be addressed sooner than later.”
The TDA has cited changes in travel patterns as the rules surrounding COVID continue to be relaxed. It also says more vacationers are deciding to travel to bigger cities or overseas as their holiday destinations.
For locals, the question is whether this summer’s drop in occupancy rates is a dip, in an otherwise healthy tourism industry, or a trend that may continue.