DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- It's bad business in Daytona Beach. Bike Week is barely over and spring break is starting, but business owners aren't happy.

The economy is the first thing everyone is blaming. Gas prices nearing $3.50 aren't exactly in a college student's budget or a family's for that matter, so there are lots of "Welcome Breakers" signs at places where you used to need a reservation and now you could get a room.

At its peak, spring break brought in half-a-million visitors a year. In recent years, it's averaged closer to 125,000 and this year tourism industry leaders said spring break could be down another 25-percent.

The Flamingo Inn has catered to spring breakers for almost 30 years, but this year it isn't even taking reservations simply because there's no need to.

"This year we are not even able to fill up. We had to let our minimum stays go. It was pretty obvious the town wasn't as packed," said hotel owner Meryl Kappelmann.

Breakers staying at the Flamingo said they only decided a few days ago to head to Daytona and finding a hotel wasn't a problem.

"A few days before we decided to come down here, got a room, and it worked out really well," said student Mike Swenson.

They're having fun, but admitted the town is emptier than they would have liked. Spring break promoters told Eyewitness News the economy is finally having a ripple effect.

"Every day you pick up the paper, it's bad economic news. You think that's somewhere else. Well, sooner or later it comes to roost in the tourist destination. We're feeling it," said Scott Edwards, Daytona Welcome Center.

Even that typical spring break scene with kids hanging out on hotel balconies isn't really happening this year. The industry is hoping, because Easter is early, the season may be saved by lasting a little longer.