Sandy Fails To Keep Tourists Away From New Jersey

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The first post-superstorm Sandy tourism season in New Jersey was "stronger" than officials had projected.

The Garden State raked in more tourism dollars in 2013 than it did in 2009 and 2011, and it was only slightly behind the nearly $40 million record set in 2012, Michele Brown, CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, told WCBS 880's Monica Miller.

Brown declined to provide exact figures.

Listen to Sandy Fails To Keep Tourists Away From New Jersey

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty said it didn't help that the Jersey shore had one of its wettest Junes on record last year. But "when the weather was great, we were packed," he noted.

Doherty said that the press and the state's multi-million-dollar "Stronger than the Storm" tourism ad campaign made a huge difference.

"It did drive middle-class families from New York and Jersey to come to the shore when the weather was nice," the mayor said.

Brown said a new summer tourism campaign, which will use $5 million in Sandy funds, is in the works.

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