Larry Sharrott, Sr. and his family opened the doors of the Sharrott Winery in Blue Anchor, New Jersey 10 years ago. Sharrott Winery is a family-owned and -operated business, with Larry, Sr. and his oldest son acting as equal owners. For the Sharrotts, the New Jersey tourism industry acts as a personal and professional lifeline.
According to Larry Sharrott Sr, “Increased tourism is helping to change the perception of our industry. When visitors get the opportunity to taste our wines and visit our wineries they come away with a greater understanding of the high quality wines and customer experience that we have become known for.”
To attract more visitors, the winery holds events like the “Live Music Series” which features local artists and an annual festival every spring. The tourism generated by Sharrott Winery helps fuel the local economy with spending at other local businesses such as restaurants.
Sharrott says less tourists will be traveling to the state to visit restaurants, wineries, and other attractions in the wake of budget cuts. “Hotels and restaurants would probably be hit the hardest,” said Sharrott. “Likely, the shore would see less people and thus the small businesses would suffer.”
Each day, 517,559 Americans go to work in the New Jersey tourism industry, and the threat of budget cuts puts jobs like Larry Sharrott, Sr. and the New Jersey residents he employs in jeopardy. New Jersey Destination Marketing Organizations and New Jersey Tourism Industry Association have joined forces to advocate for and lend support to the New Jersey tourism industry.
If you are interested learning what you can do to lend your support for New Jersey tourism, visit the #TourismAndYou toolkit here.