Alabama’s coastline usually brims with beach-bound tourists in summertime, although 2009-10 saw an economic recession and man-made disaster hold visitors at bay. Figures from the July Fourth weekend on Pleasure Island may be indicative of an economic revival, experts say.

Along with being recognized as one of the nation’s favorite beach areas by a weatherchannel.com poll, the island may very well be on its way back as a top spot for tourists. Numbers may be on the way to setting new records, according to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism.

“With 2011 holiday weekend figures projected to exceed the 2009 figures for the same comparable period, we are continuing to make positive strides thanks to the strong loyalty of our consumer base,” Herb Malone, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism President, said in a news release.

Realty companies around the island reported occupancy numbers near 100 percent in the week leading up to the holiday weekend, up a rough average of 12 percent from 2009 figures from the same companies.

“Reservation calls began to increase dramatically in the last two weeks, and we were still getting guest inquiries at the beginning of this week,” Marketing Director Connie Bryars from Young’s Suncoast Vacation Rentals reported to the Conventions and Visitor’s Bureau last week, also saying the company was at 100 percent occupancy for the holiday.

Restaurants were packed out over the weekend with chattering tourists from across the region. Visitor’s were filling up seats early in a rush to see fireworks lighting up the coastal sky, according to manager Laura Baker at Cosmo’s Restaurant and Grill in Orange Beach.

“We had a great weekend. There were lots of families down having a great time,” Baker said. “Dinner started earlier with everyone trying to get to fireworks shows. We had really, really busy lunches and early dinners.”

“We had more people from Texas and Arkansas, more than our usual ‘local’ tourists from Mississippi and Louisiana,” she said.

Bahama Bob’s in Gulf Shores added an hour on to their usual waiting time, according to General Manager Diane Barron.

“We probably had some of the longest waiting times ever. Usually our longest waiting times are 45 minutes to maybe an hour and a half. We had some two and two and a half hour waiting times this weekend. But people stayed. For the most part, it was a good crowd, friendly people,” Barron said.

“It was wonderful,” she said. “We had a fantastic weekend, much better than last year.”