The slumping economy didn't stop tourists from coming to Panama City Beach this holiday weekend. Dan Rowe, president of the TDC, says, "It was a huge weekend on Panama City Beach. Everybody I talked to was very happy with the number of visitors we had on the beach."

Rowe says the fireworks displays all across the beach were well-attended. That means hotels and restaurants were full all weekend. Philip Colvin, marketing director at the Holiday Inn SunSpree, says, "They all came in and we completely sold out and everybody that was here had a great time."

New events, like fireworks across Grand Lagoon, helped area businesses retain customers. Konrad Jochum, executive chef at the Boat Yard restaurant, says, "It was a wonderful turnout. People were hanging out on the docks, spending time on the boats and mostly sitting at the restaurant enjoying their dinner, enjoying the fireworks."

Jochum says people were ordering champagne to watch the fireworks take off about 50 feet from the restaurant. Officials say multiple venues at the beach helped attract tourists: "We have so many accommodations and so much to offer within 17 miles of sand that having events at Pier Park and Grand Lagoon does very well for us and helps spread the visitors out."

While the economy wasn't too hard on the numbers, it has changed the way customers plan vacations. Colvin says, "The booking window is a week to two weeks out, instead of a month out, like it used to be in the past. But, they're all coming, they're still coming. We're having a great year."

July is the biggest month for the tourism industry, so officials are hoping the strong opening weekend is a sign of what's to come. Officials say they plan to continue the fireworks display over Grand Lagoon every year for the Fourth.