Tourism keeping Oregon coast businesses afloat

ASTORIA, Ore. -- The summer tourist season on the Oregon coast turned out to be fairly average, but business owners say that's better than expected with the slow recovery of the economy.

Jon Rahl, director of tourism marketing at the Seaside Visitors' Bureau, told the Daily Astorian that's better than the tourism industry across the nation.

Rahl said hotel business in Seaside was actually up by about 10 percent.

The summer season kicked off to a good start with the 25th anniversary celebration of the filming of the movie "Goonies" in June, which proved to be a bigger money-maker for area businesses than Memorial Day, drawing thousands of people.