![]() ![]() "So working Cape Cod'ers and Islanders, especially people who are working in our hospitality and tourism sector, they just can't compete." "It's much more valuable to be rented by the night than it is by the month or by the season," Cyr said. Additionally, a number of homes that, in the past, would have been rented out for seasonal workers have been converted to short-term rentals, according to Cyr. Much of the housing on the Cape is people's second and third homes, which became even more attractive for owners to occupy year-round during the pandemic. ![]() "What the pandemic did is it put that problem on steroids," Cyr said. The worker shortage on the Cape has been largely driven by a housing crisis - there isn't enough housing available, and the options that do exist aren't affordable - according to Sen. But this summer, the region has less than half that. For example: Before the pandemic, the Cape had about 5,000 workers on J1 visas in the summer, according to Niedziwecki. The Cape typically relies on foreign workers to help staff hotels, restaurants and other businesses during the busy tourist season, but the area hasn't seen a rebound to pre-pandemic numbers of some temporary visas. These are the sorts of changes businesses have adopted due to the worker shortage the region has experienced over the last two summers, according to Niedziwecki. Or restaurants that used to serve lunch and dinner that only serve dinner." "Or restaurants that are no longer open seven days a week - they're open six or five days. "When people are down, they'll see potentially longer waits to get into restaurants, for example," Niedziwecki said. Niedziwecki said visitors should "pack their patience" when they head to the Cape because these staffing challenges will impact service at many businesses. "We are expecting another very strong summer," Niedziwecki said.īut, as in previous years, the region continues to struggle to find enough seasonal workers. The rest of the summer is 40%-50% booked, but Niedzweck thinks the lower rate reflects an increase in short-term rentals available this season compared to past seasons. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)įrom Cape Cod to the Berkshires, tourism destinations in Massachusetts expect a busy summer season.īookings for short-term rentals and hotels are already high for the Cape's peak season - about 80% booked for the period from mid-July through mid-August - according to Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce CEO Paul Niedziwecki. Tourists walk past Shop Therapy on Commercial Street in Provincetown.
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