Case Study And SWOT Analysis Of Montauk: Outdoor Activities

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Case Study SWOT Analysis

Section 1:

Montauk, New York is a village at the east end of the Long Island peninsula. This village resides in Suffolk County and is in the town of East Hampton with a current population of 3,326 people covering 52㎢[1]. The population density is only 65/㎢ which is extremely low compared to the overall population density of Long Island which is 2,086/㎢[2]. This due to the many state parks that are located in montauk, and also the high cost of living in the village. The median home cost in Montauk averages around $1.4 million, compared to the rest of New York’s median home cost which averages around $300,000[3]. This small village is 190km east of Midtown Manhattan and 32km off the Connecticut coastline[4].

Montauk is the northernmost location in the United States with an oceanic/humid subtropical climate. The Atlantic Ocean brings warmer winters than inland areas of the same latitude, but cooler springs and summers. The monthly daily average temperatures range from .2°C in January and 22.4°C in July[5].

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As a resident of Montauk and having first hand experience of the amenities this village offers is the reason why this destination was chosen for the case study. It has many restaurants, bed and breakfasts, and hotels, and is a popular vacation spot in the warm months. Such accommodations are rarer elsewhere in the Hamptons. Containing four state parks and numerous vineyards to sightsee and relax, it is also famous for its fishing, claiming to have more world saltwater fishing records than any other port in the world. Along with sportfishing, Montauk offers many other water-sports, and boat/cruise charters.

East Hampton is connected to New York City and the rest of Long Island by a set of roadways, bus services, and a rail service. There are also many small private and commercial airports that offer transportation on either helicopters or small planes. The rail service offers limited trips from New York Cityto the Montauk branch, but there are daily bus services that travel back and forth. This service also increases in the summer months, making it more accessible for the weekend getaway tourist or tourists flying into JFK international or LaGuardia.

Section 2:

Strengths

Economy

Montauk has seen the job market increase by 0.9% over the last year[6]. The average income of a Montauk resident is $46,953 a year[6]. The US average is $28,555 a year. The Median household income of a Montauk resident is $73,000 a year. The US average is $53,482 a year[6].

Crime Rates

On a crime index (1-100) 1= least Montauk has a crime index of 9.0 compared to the US average of 22.7 in violent crimes[7]. In property crimes, Montauk had an index of 22.7 compared to the US average of 35.4[7].

Health

Health is ranked from 1-100 (1 being the worst and 100 being the best), Montauk’s air quality is 86 compared to the US average of 58[8]. Montauk’s water quality is 61 compared to the US average of 55[8]. There are 246 physicians per 100,000 population in Montauk. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people[8].

Easy to Get to

Montauk is easily accessible by car, by bus, by rail, and even by boat.

Taking a commercial flight to New York is easy. There are three airports to choose from in the region. John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA), both in Queens, and MacArthur Airport (ISP) in Islip are all easily the first step to getting to Montauk.

There is a shuttle available that connects to the Sayville LIRR station, where you can board the train to Montauk. There is also the S57 bus, run by Suffolk County Transit, which connects to Sayville. The shuttle costs $5, whereas the S57 costs $2. Either travelling in your own car or by rental car it is easy to get out to ‘The End’. The only road that goes out to the seaside town is Sunrise Highway (or Route 27), which runs from New York City all the way to Montauk. Along the way Sunrise Highway turns into Montauk Highway yet it is still known as Route 27. The Hampton Jitney bus service runs from Manhattan to Montauk. There are also local buses run by Suffolk from town to town. The Long Island Railroad (LIRR) is an alternative to driving. It too runs from Penn Station in Manhattan to Montauk.There are also places at which one can dock their boat and also ferries that run from other East End locations[9].

Weaknesses

During the months of September through November is when sport fishing off Montauk Point is a world-wide attraction. However, when the striped bass migrate south the rocky cliffs where most of the fishing is done off of, become barren and tourists are nowhere to be found. The winter months not only keep the tourist from fishing, but also from participating in other water sport activities. The Montauk Sailing Company and along with many other tour companies in Montauk are only open between the months May-September[11].

Montauk has just been named the most expensive travel destinations in the US, according to a survey by CheapHotels.org that compared destinations across the nation by the average cost of lodging during the month of August. The least expensive double room in Montauk in August was $392 per night. So for travelers on a budget it may be hard to come here due to the high prices of lodging[10].

Jet Ski rentals ranged from $125 for 1/2hr and $200 for 1 hour [11].

Boat rental prices depended on their sizes. The price range average for all the boats were around $230-$350 an hour not including fuel[11].

The median home cost for Montauk is $1.2 million compared to $231,200 US average[12].

Unemployment rate in Montauk are 3.80% which is higher than the US average which is 3.70% [13].

The Sales Tax Rate for Montauk is 8.6% which is higher than the US average is 7.3%[13].

Section 3:

Opportunities

Sport Fishing in Montauk

Fishing in Montauk is an extreme sport, and many of the residents boast that this town is the “Best in the World” for fishing. The most popular spot to fish in Montauk is the lighthouse at the very tip of the South Fork of Long Island. This is where the bait fish spill from the waterways to the north and east, and are swept all over the point to attract hungry fish.The Lighthouse parking lot becomes packed with avid anglers staying in large vehicles or small vans. The Fishing near the lighthouse has not only become a domestic attraction but a worldwide attraction, many Europeans fly over every year during prime fishing season[14].

Watersports

From June through September, Monatauk is flooded with tourists from all over. Seeking the thrill of riding some of the east coast’s biggest waves. Just a couple hours from New York City, people come to seek that “California vibe”[15] on the east coast. The rocky cliffs of the Montauk point have many of the same features as some of the West Coast seascapes. Waves around the point reach nearly 20 feet, making it a hotbed for surfers on the east coast.

With water surrounding all three sides of Montauk, surfing is not the only watersport tourists come to participate in. Examples include:

  • Boat rentals
  • Kayaking and canoeing
  • Dinner and tour boat cruises
  • Jet skiing
  • Sailing
  • Paddleboarding
  • Parasailing
  • Wakeboarding
  • State Parks

Montauk Point State Park located on the eastern tip of the South Shore of Long Island, offers great views of the Atlantic ocean. When the water is calm, visitors can clearly see the ‘race’ of converging tides from the Atlantic and Block Island Sound. Visitors can also use the nature trails to hike or cross-country skiing, or spend time watching the seals sun on the rocks offshore. Block Island can be seen off in the distance. Surf fishing at the Point is a popular activity, especially when striped bass are running in the area. Surfing is allowed from December 15th through March 31st. Parking fees are $8 and an extra $12 to go into the lighthouse. Some people prefer to avoid the parking fees and ride their bikes or walk there[16].

Hither Hills State Park- A state park located on the eastern side of the South Shore of Long island. Hither Hills offers many scenic picnic areas and fireplaces, sportfishing, a sandy beach, and a campground on the ocean. Anglers can fish year-round and obtain permits to fish at night. The unique ‘walking dunes’ of Napeague Harbor are located on the eastern boundary of the park, which also has woodlands filled with Russian olive, oak, shad and pine trees. Bridle paths and hiking, nature, biking and cross-country ski trails are available. These hiking paths are riddled with mosquitoes, so travelers must come with proper insect repellent as well as proper clothing[17].

Ditch Plains Beach Park- A popular spot for surfing & swimming, this large beach offers seasonal lifeguards & scenic views. Although it is a public beach, only residents of Montauk are allowed to park, outside residents or travelers will need to either walk or ride their bikes there which is an inconvenience for some[15].

Camp Hero State Park- A 415- acre state park that contains a diverse landscape that includes a heavily wooded area, a long shoreline, and military installations. Specific features of Camp Hero are magnificent pristine maritime forests, freshwater wetlands, spectacular ocean vistas and dramatic bluffs rising from the beach. An extensive system of trails is available for hiking, biking and horseback riding. The park boasts some of the best surf fishing locations in the world, open 24 hours a day to fishermen with permits, and areas for picnicking. An undisturbed environment shelters bountiful wildlife and an abundance of birds. The former military base that is in the park is registered as a National Historic Site[18].

Shadmoor State Park- The park, named for its open, rolling geography and the shadbush that grows there, also has bluffs, freshwater wetlands that are part of the preserve, hiking trails and elevated platforms for birdwatching and enjoying the shoreline views. Visitors may picnic and saltwater fish[19].

Vineyards in Montauk

The East End of Long Island is where all the wineries are found over 60 different wineries that loop the South Fork. Tourists can hop on a bus and embark on a wine tasting tour of the South Fork. Wine tours in Montauk range from $150-200 per person for the day[20].

Threats

Erosion has been affecting Montauk for years. Sandbags were installed as part of an artificial dune by the Army Corps of Engineers in 2015 to protects Montauks downtown from the rising Atlantic Ocean. Every year the ocean has washed away the sandbags which narrows the beaches that bring in hordes of tourists every year. It costs East Hampton $1 million to keep replacing the dunes every year after the winter storms destroy them. The recurring erosion has moved the shoreline 44 feet inland since 2000[21].

With diesel fuel prices rising past $4 a gallon and new federal limited on prized catch- summer flounder, or fluke, boat owners are saying it is getting pricey to take people fishing. “If things don’t change soon, there are going to be a lot of boats out of business,” said Capt. Paul Forsberg, owner of the Viking Fleet, five party boats and ferries based in Montauk. Because of higher fuel costs, party boats this year are charging on average $40 to $70 a person for half-day, three-quarter-day or full-day fishing trips. That is up 10 to 20 percent over last year, when diesel fuel cost $2.50 to $3 a gallon. Overpricing may drive party and fishing boats out of business, which may also have an affect on other businesses in the area that rely on the boast to bring in tourists and food. Places such as hotels, bait shops, coffee shops, and restaurants could all lose revenue if party and fishing boats stopped coming to town due to higher gas prices and stricter fish laws. In New York, fluke must be 20.5 inches, up an inch over last year and 2.5 inches since 2006. New York’s fluke-fishing season has also been shortened by 16 days over last year[22].

Section 4:

Recommendations for the Future

Montauk has just been named the most expensive destinations to travel to in the US. Tying to find a hotel during the month of August is nearly impossible if not booked months in advance. Once booked the prices of the rooms are extremely expensive which only narrows the type of tourists that can come and afford this expensive destination. One proposal is that Montauk should move away from building elegant hotels and start building more hostels to give tourists a place to stay without being very expensive. By opening up the market to more middle class tourists it could help the overall revenue of business in Montauk.

Montauk should start building more boardwalks and shops to line the beaches. More concession stands on the beach will boost revenue for the village since there are mass numbers of tourists on the beach, they could just walk up to the boardwalk and get some food. The food areas should be run by the town, so the money could be used for Montauk. This will take revenue away from the commercial food places off the beach, that many tourists visit.

Montauk is also known for the famous bar “The Boardybarn” which is the place to be when you first turn 21 years of age and can legally drink. Every Sunday during the summer the bar floods with hundreds of college kids trying to get pictures with the famous smiley stickers all over them. However, this is the only bar in Montauk that college kids flood to. A recommendation for the future of Montauk would be building more bars geared towards the younger crowds, instead old dad bars that will not bring nearly as much tourists. Along with building more modern bars, Montauk should build more social media friendly restaurants. With the new age of millennials, they would travel anywhere to take a great picture at a “vibey” looking restaurant and upload to their social media accounts.

Section 5:

  1. References
  2. ‘Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Montauk CDP, New York’
  3. ‘American Fact Finder’ https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/new_york/montauk
  4. ‘Long Island Fishing Charters And Party Boats’
  5. ‘Station Name: NY NEW YORK CNTRL PK TWR’
  6. https://www.bestplaces.net/economy/city/new_york/montauk
  7. https://www.bestplaces.net/crime/city/new_york/montauk
  8. https://www.bestplaces.net/health/city/new_york/montauk
  9. https://wikitravel.org/en/Montauk
  10. https://fortune.com/2017/07/29/most-expensive-beach-us-montauk/
  11. https://www.uihleinsmarina.com/rental-pricing
  12. https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/new_york/montauk
  13. https://www.bestplaces.net/jobs/city/new_york/montauk
  14. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/arts/bass-fishing-time-at-montauk-lighthouse.html
  15. https://www.surfline.com/travel/united-states/new-york/suffolk-county/montauk-surfing-and-beaches/5127321
  16. https://parks.ny.gov/parks/61/
  17. https://parks.ny.gov/parks/122
  18. https://parks.ny.gov/parks/97/
  19. https://parks.ny.gov/parks/16
  20. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g48134-d8378018-Reviews-New_Vine_Wine_Tours-Mattituck_North_Fork_Long_Island_New_York.html
  21. https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/montauk-erosion-1.24071066
  22. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/13dieselli.html

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