GULF SHORES, Ala. — Despite difficult economic times facing Americans from coast to coast, numbers recently released by the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau show that during July people were still packing up and heading to the Gulf Coast for recreation, rest and relaxation.

During July, condominium occupancy was just under 80 percent, a 3 percent increase from the same time last year. In both Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, the influx of vacationers turned into additional tax income.

Orange Beach set records for lodging and retail tax revenue figures for the month of July, taking in $1.4 million in lodging rental tax, up 5.2 percent from 2008, and $1.01 million in retail sales tax, an increase of 13.5 percent from a year ago.

“These outstanding numbers show that the travel experts were correct in their summer forecasts,” said Herb Malone, CVB president/CEO in a press release.

“While some media reports constantly focused on the economic situation and attempted to raise concerns that people would not travel, this data shows what we already knew.

“Vacations are the special moments in life where families can leave the stresses and strains of everyday life behind and reconnect with their loved one. We are thankful that our guests choose to return each year to our 32 miles of relaxing sugar white sand.”

Ken Grimes, city administrator in Orange Beach was equally excited, but also cautious.

“We had a lot of people here during the month of July,” Grimes said. “Our numbers confirm it, our sewer flows confirm it. Most people don’t like to know that, but (the sewer) is one way we judge how many people are in town, and we had the highest sewer flows that we have ever had in the 25-year history of Orange Beach.”

Grimes said the sewer is a constant that helps judge the number of people in town at any certain time.

“While other factors may vary, there is no way to change flushing the toilet,” Grimes said. “We also know that during July Fourth weekend when there were so many people in town, there was no rain, and even though we are a pressurized system, we don’t have very much gravity feed and there is no intrusion of storm water, so we know that it was purely flow.”

Even with the record-breaking month in July, Grimes said that barring any kind of seasonal evacuation, the city will still come in under budget at years end.

“We had a great month in two categories and we are very excited about that, but that is two out of 12 revenue streams,” Grimes said.

With record numbers of people coming to town, city officials say it often causes issues with traffic and trash and other problems, but they hope the trend continues.

A couple of factors helping boost the numbers during July included several USSSA baseball and softball events, as well as the 12,000 students who participated in the Student Life summer youth conference at The Wharf.