Crowds spell strong finish to Galveston's tourist season

There's plenty to do, and business is booming in Galveston. How much is a Galveston weekend going to cost? Check it out here. There's plenty to do, and business is booming in Galveston. How much is a Galveston weekend going to cost? Check it out here. Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Crowds spell strong finish to Galveston's tourist season 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

GALVESTON - A crowded Labor Day weekend on Galveston Island capped the busiest tourist season since Hurricane Ike, and improvements under way are expected to attract even larger crowds next year, tourism officials said Tuesday.

"We've had an excellent year," said Kelly de Schaun, Galveston Park Board executive director.

Labor Day traffic on the island increased 3.3 percent over last year, with an estimated 440,000 visitors over the weekend, according to the Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Galveston hotel occupancy rates and prices are up and the city's largest beach, Stewart Beach, has crowds that rival pre-Hurricane Ike levels, de Schaun said.

"For hotels it really has been a good year," said Paul Schultz, president of the Galveston Hotel and Lodging Association and vice president of hospitality at The San Luis Resort and Spa. Schultz said revenues at the San Luis Resort's three hotels were up 20 percent.

Hotel occupancy rates in June were 81.6 percent, up from 73.1 percent last year, according to Convention and Visitors Bureau figures. The rates for July were down slightly, to 82.3 percent from 83.1 percent; August figures are not yet available.

Tourists were undeterred by seaweed that inundated beaches throughout the summer and by last month's toxic red tide that coated beaches with dead fish. Galveston was the second most popular tourist destination in Texas throughout the season, behind San Antonio, said Leah Cast, a spokeswoman for the convention and visitors bureau.

Tourism got a boost from a $98,000 "It's Island Time" television ad campaign that ran from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Cast said.

"We've concentrated our efforts in focusing on that 350-mile drive-in market," de Schaun said.

Moody Gardens spokeswoman Jerri Hamachek said attendance at the aquarium and rain forest attractions was up less than 5 percent from last year, but bookings were up nearly 10 percent at the Moody Gardens Hotel despite rate increases. The number of rounds played at the city golf course managed by Moody Gardens were up 12 percent.

De Schaun said beach improvements should bring even more tourists next year. New signs will be erected on the seawall with maps showing city attractions. The maps will contain an image that can be scanned with a cellphone that will produce a list of attractions and their GPS coordinates.

New beach grasses are being planted for beautification, to reduce erosion from rain runoff and to keep sand from blowing onto Seawall Boulevard. A $1.6 million boardwalk and pavilion with bathrooms is being built at Apffel Park, the island's easternmost beach, and $1.3 million is being spent for new cabanas, bathrooms and parking lots at three pocket parks on the west end that have been closed since Hurricane Ike struck Galveston in 2008.

harvey.rice@chron.com