Whew! Another summer down and winter to go.

I’ll admit it’s kind of nice to get back to a slower pace – for a while.

It’s hard to keep up with the heavy traffic, crowded restaurants and beach, etc. for much longer than two or three months at a stretch. About the time the peak summer season is over is about the time we’re all ready for a break.

However, if you think tourism doesn’t enhance your bottom line, just let that break become extended and you’ll be singing a different tune.

Tourism is the lifeblood of the Port Aransas economy. The number of meals, fishing trips, purses, shoes, outfits, beach towels, hotel nights, homes, boats, gallons of gas, six packs of beer, bottles of bourbon, bags of ice and so much more that are sold in Port Aransas wouldn’t be enough to keep the doors open if not for tourism.

The proliferation of real estate offices and agents alone is testimony to increased tourism. Without tourists, the number of homes and other properties would necessitate far fewer warm bodies to facilitate real estate transactions.

Without tourists, fishing guides would be sitting on the dock of the bay – all alone with no one to take fishing.

Without tourists, restaurant tables would go empty and wait staff would be without paychecks.

Without tourists, the bags of ice would freeze solid until the iceman couldn’t pay his electric bill, and they’d all melt.

You get the picture: Tourists are our paychecks. We need them.

To keep them coming back, even after Friday night lights have lured them inland for the fall, we need to treat them well.

It amazes me that this even has to be written, but without fail I hear about someone, business people included, who say tourism does not impact their businesses.

I don’t know who they think would buy their merchandise, services, real estate, entertainment or meals if not for tourism. Their “local” customers depend on tourism, so without the tourists to fill the coffers, even the locals won’t be spending money at home.

So, directly or indirectly, all of us in Port Aransas are impacted by tourism.

Let’s all take a much-deserved break, then hope our visitors will return for the fun activities we offer in the fall, starting with the already sold-out Champagne Cruise tomorrow night, followed by, among others, MustangFest 2010, Mardi Gras in October, the South Texas Music Fest and Chili, Bean and Barbecue Cook-off, the centennial celebration and PA Art About art walk, Sandstock, and the Fall Back and Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues Festival in November. And then there’s Christmas and the return of our Winter Texans!

Tourists – ya gotta love ’em, ’cause without ’em we’re in a big lotta trouble!

Mary Henkel Judson is editor and copublisher of the South Jetty. Contact her at southjetty@centurytel.net, (361) 749-5131 or P.O. Box 1117, Port Aransas, TX 78373.