For Immediate Release:
September 21, 2021

Commissioners announce successful
2021 summer tourism season

KEYPORT, NJ – The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners and tourism partners concluded the 2021 summer tourism season with a press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 21 at the Mini Park located at 55 West Front Street.

“We are excited to announce we had a successful 2021 summer tourism season. Our beaches, parks and small businesses continue to attract visitors from around the State and Country,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to Monmouth County Tourism. “2020 was an exceptional summer season at the Jersey Shore. The beach was one of the only places people could go due to travel bans and COVID-19 restrictions. As such, we saw a record-breaking beach revenue year in 2020. Nearly all towns that have reported their 2021 totals are ahead of their 2019 totals. This is a great sign that our beaches continue to be on track with successful seasons when compared to pre-pandemic years.”

“Keyport saw increased levels of tourism this spring and summer as people returned to enjoy our waterfront parks, outdoor music/movie events, restaurants, and stores,” said Keyport Borough Mayor Collette J. Kennedy. “There will still be plenty of sunshine and we welcome people to continue to shop, dine, and explore the Bayshore.”

“Our business community took hard hits, in some cases, unjustified hits because of regulations that were difficult for them but they overcame them and are bouncing back but it is our job as elected officials to make sure they stay on that level of success and continue to progress,” said Commissioner Director Arnone. “We are incredibly proud of how we handled our CARES Act money and we made sure that money stayed right here in Monmouth County whether it was the 53 municipalities or the small businesses that needed our support.”

“As a small business owner, I looked for federal, state, county and municipal aid and there was caveat after caveat that precluded my business from getting any money and I was so proud and happy to go to my dad and say ‘Thank you so much to Monmouth County’ because they really understood that small businesses don’t check the boxes that a lot of the bigger companies do,” said Janet Gallo-Markowski, owner of Pearl Yoga and Fitness in Keyport. “Honestly without their assistance, I am not sure if Pearl would have been able to survive so I want to personally thank you for being so aware of where small businesses were falling through.”

For more information about Monmouth County happenings, go to tourism.visitmonmouth.com and follow Monmouth County Tourism on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

KEYPORT, NJ - County Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone spoke at the "End of Summer Tourism" Press Conference regarding the County's success in distributing CARES Act money to the municipalities and small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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