MOBILE, Ala. (AP) – The Alabama Gulf Coast beaches are seeing a surge in tourists that could prove to be the busiest June ever for some businesses.

And with the additional hotel and condo bookings, tourism officials see more traffic, longer waits for tables in restaurants, sometimes even bigger lines in grocery stores as businesses grapple with labor shortages as the economy emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.

To encourage visitors to be patient in addition to their bathing suits and sunscreen, Alabama tourism authorities launched a summer “It’s Worth the Wait” marketing campaign.

“Given the nationwide staff shortage, particularly in the tourism industry, we want to help guests understand what to expect or what to expect in our destination,” Kay Maghan, a spokeswoman for Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, told al.com.

During Memorial Day weekend in late May, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach reported nearly 85% rental occupancy – dwarfing previous highs in 2019 and last year when a flood hit shortly after Alabama’s beaches reopened during the pandemic of visitors arrived.

Tourism officials also noted that Interstate 10 and other major routes to the beaches were stronger than normal during the holiday weekend, which marks an unofficial start to the summer season.

“The entire state tourism industry got off to a great start over the holiday weekend,” said Lee Sentell, director of the Alabama tourism division.

Brett Robinson Rentals manages 1,700 rental units on the Alabama beaches and reported that bookings for Memorial Day weekend were close to 100%. Spokesman Robert Kennedy Jr. said the company was assuming “what may be our best June ever.”

“Occupancy is still available,” said Kennedy. “But it will tend towards the middle of the week. The weekends are booked almost until the 4th of July weekend, but we have availability.”

Meanwhile, in the face of a national labor shortage, especially in the lower-wage service industries, many companies are struggling to recruit enough workers for the peak season.

At Flora-Bama, a popular beachfront roadhouse on the Florida-Alabama line, owners are still struggling to hire people despite a $ 500 bonus.

Jenifer Parnell, a Flora-Bama spokeswoman, said sales and traffic increased during the Memorial Day holidays, while staffing was “extremely difficult”.

“Some people come in to apply,” Parnell said, noting the bonuses helped, “but we definitely need more.”