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Although far from being in full swing, the season this year is kicking off with a bang, with roads in the past couple of weeks becoming more and more congested.

"We do think there are people who are arriving in the market a bit early to perhaps check their property and assess what the area looks like," Collier County tourism director Jack Wert said.

"One thing we are concerned about is as soon as all the recovery work is done in our area, and those first responders move on, we're going to have a real challenge filling hotel rooms," he said. "It looks pretty good now. I'd be hard-pressed to find a room.

Wert said a fall advertising campaign that starts Monday is encouraging some of the area's regular short-term visitors to come down earlier this year.

Seasonal residents who otherwise might not come down for another month or two are flocking back to Riviera Golf Estates, one of the harder-hit areas from Wilma that includes a manufactured-home enclave that had substantial damage.

"I would say that there are people who are coming in to assess the damage," said Marilyn Coleman, an office manager for the community's association.

"Some may stay. They have to get their insurance adjusters in. They have to meet with contractors and make sure homes are tarped," she said. "They are down here probably for the duration (of the season), unless it's too bad emotionally. To be honest, some people are leaving. They don't want to deal with it anymore."

Grover Whidden, a spokesman for Florida Power & Light, said the company doesn't as of now have numbers reflecting how many homes are getting their power turned on early. He said the figures take about a month to filter in.

"Our folks who work with customers in the field are making comments that people seem to be coming down a little earlier this year," Whidden said. "Normally, they (seasonal visitors) start coming down after Thanksgiving. There are waves. Now this year, it (the first wave) seems stronger than normal."

Jim Gunderson, general manager of the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, said he's noticing residents in his Port Royal neighborhood who are making an early arrival.

"I've seen a lot of people come back to check out their homes. I think a lot of people are back already, except the hardcore folks who come here in January, February and March," he said.

Thomas O'Neill, postmaster for the Naples office, said more people have been forwarding their mail down from up North earlier this season than in years past.

At Southwest Florida International Airport, traffic has continued to break records each month. Recent figures show a 15 percent increase in passenger traffic this September over last.

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