Nationwide Journey and Tourism Week: Coastal companies having fun with the crowds however are busy with scarcity of staff

EMERALD ISLE, NC (WNCT) – National Travel and Tourism Week runs through May 9. Many of the Crystal Coast companies we spoke to love this time of the week, but they are encountering a known problem.

9OYS has reached out to coastal companies to see how they are handling the pre-summer crowds since the COVID-19 first hit. With vaccines and more people ready to travel, companies in Emerald Isle say it has been difficult to keep up with the crowds.

It’s scary at times, but at the same time you just have to hold on and make the most of what you get.

Randy Hanford, Snapperz

Staffing remains a major concern for many places that are understaffed.

It’s just getting more and more people, the only problem is… staff.

Kathy Jasso, Flipperz

The owner of Snapperz in Emerald Isle and the general manager of Flipperz both have the same difficulties. From salespeople to deliveries to workers back and forth, Hanford describes trying to find workers as “practically impossible”.

He said after seeing the crowds over the Easter weekend and spring break, he was concerned about what the restaurant might do in the coming weeks.

Jasso also said when COVID-19 first hit the market, they made it look like a fast food restaurant because of their take away parking lot. Now these crowds are coming into the house, but they don’t have the crew to handle it.

You can learn more about these companies in the story above.