09/23/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CFZ7WqqfU/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Someone asked what I would do differently to address some of the issues that appear to be plaguing Ocean City’s tourism.
I believe the solution is multi-faceted and will take real work. However, it is important to understand that people naturally want to come to Ocean City so it takes real work to prevent them from doing so.
It has to start with culture. There is a growing attitude of greed and resentment toward tourists, and it is coming from Town government as an echo of a vocal group of some locals. Ironically, that resentment has now infiltrated local governance. Ocean City needs to be reminded that tourists and secondary homeowners vote too, they just vote with their feet.
The local economy cannot remain hotel-centric. The goal is not simply to fill hotel rooms at maximum nightly stays. The goal is to get people to the island, beach, into restaurants and shops, and supporting the broader local economy. Some will stay for a day, some for a weekend, some for a week, and some for a lifetime. Hotels are a means of supporting that stay, it’s not the end-game.
We also need to get back to being a family resort. Much of the nostalgia that once defined Ocean City as a family destination is fading. There is no indoor attraction that truly supports families at scale for rainy or cold days. That needs serious brainstorming. Day-drinking on a rainy afternoon is not a family-friendly plan.
Price gouging has to stop. $6 an hour for downtown parking is ridiculous. Charging for parking in April is ridiculous. Why would a family eat downtown and absorb that cost when they can go to West Ocean City, Berlin, Fenwick, or even Lewes? Stop charging for parking at hotels. Stop adding credit card fees. It is the little things that drive people away. People will pay for a quality meal but resent paying for overpriced bar food.
The Boardwalk and other public areas must be safe. Drop the petty fines on petty infractions and focus on real public safety. Ocean City’s image on safety is everything! If the perception continues to takes hold that the Boardwalk is unsafe, people simply will not come. The gaslighting around “takeover” events was overblown this summer and did the Town no favors whatsoever. The social media narrative as well as the news coverage was detrimental to tourism.
Get rid of the marketing agency that produced the smiley-face logo. They clearly do not understand what draws people here. Tourism has been in decline since they were hired. The tourism department should also be replaced since they appear to keep gaslighting the town about tourism trends.
Sports tourism is a good thing, if done properly, however, it is not the savior, especially at a $160 million price tag. Use far fewer resources to build something on the island that actually supports the local economy year-round. The fact that the town increased room tax at a time when tourists are complaining about room rates demonstrates that the town is not listening to its biggest stakeholder, the tourist.
These are some of the things that come to mind. Some can be challenged which is fine.
But the number one thing is to get back to a sense of hospitality and appreciation for the people who make the economy.
“they can choose to go anywhere in the world, but they chose to come to Ocean City.”
