“The Shore is OPEN,” the official tourism website of latest Jersey touts, assuring tourists that the Sandy-battered coastline is back up and running after months of recovery. As parts of the East endure the fourth heat wave of 2013, tourists are flocking to New Jersey’s coastline to chill off inside the ocean and revel in newly reconstructed parks, water rides and concessions. Images of the boardwalk in pieces, the famous Jet Star coaster submerged inside the salty ocean water and Restore the Shore promotions airing across local radio stations had residents and businesses worried that tourists would go elsewhere in 2013. But it was a double-edged sword—the promotions brought in significant financial aid for reconstruction. 2012 had set a record year for the state’s tourism industry, generating $34.7 billion of...
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