Salem City Councilor tells people not to visit the city ‘on a whim’ this October

SALEM, Mass. — A Salem City Councilor is urging people not to visit Salem this month ‘on a whim.’ “Have a plan and reservations,” Ty Hapworth wrote on Facebook. “If you don’t have a plan or reservations, please consider visiting outside of October.”

According to the city councilor, in the first nine days of October, there were 276,000 visitors including nearly 80,000 people visiting the city last Saturday alone. In the same time frame last year, there were 164,000 visitors.

“These numbers are MASSIVE, but not at all surprising to those of us living, working and spending time downtown,” according to Hapworth.

Without a plan or reservations, Hapworth said people are better off visiting Salem in November, or any other time of the year. “There is so much to experience in this city: from our history to our local art scene, small businesses, restaurants and world-class architecture,” he said.

If you are planning a day in the city, Hapworth is begging visitors to use the MBTA, the Salem Ferry, ride shares, or for people who have to drive park in one of Salem’s satellite parking lots that you can shuttle from to downtown.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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