By Capital News Service
Michigan’s tourism industry is preparing for another busy season, with strong visitor demand expected across the state.
However, industry experts warn that staffing challenges remain a key concern.
In tourism-dependent destinations such as Mackinac Island, preparing for the onrush of visitors depends heavily on seasonal workers.
The island relies on about 5,000 temporary employees each year.
“Seasonal workers are absolutely the backbone of everything we do here on Mackinac Island. Without them, quite simply, there is no tourism season,” said Tim Hygh, the executive director of the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau.
The scale of that demand becomes clear during peak months.
Mackinac Island draws about 1 to 1.2 million visitors annually, with traffic peaking from late June through Labor Day weekend.
“We need hospitality workers most, including hotel front desk, housekeeping, food and beverage staff across our restaurants and bars,” Hygh said.
“Basically, if a visitor touches it, we need someone staffing it,” he added.
Industry experts say these staffing challenges are not unique to any one destination.
“That’s always been the case in Michigan, especially for smaller seasonal businesses in northern parts of the state,” said Jeff Beck, an associate professor in the School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University.
“They often struggle to find enough workers to properly serve guests,” he said.
In Northern Michigan, tourism leaders say visitor activity has increased dramatically, especially over the past five years.
