Occasion journey drives report $36 million spring tax assortment in Pinellas County

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A surge in particular occasion journey and group journeys helped Pinellas County tourism leaders generate report tax revenues this spring, fueling native seaside restoration efforts.

St. Pete tourism progress

What we all know:

Pinellas County collected over $36 million in vacationer improvement taxes this spring as Visit St. Pete-Clearwater set a brand new tourism report. Tourism leaders reported that 12% of holiday makers now journey particularly for particular occasions, together with sporting competitions just like the St. Pete Grand Prix, the Red Bull Cliff Diving Competition, and music festivals. Travel patterns have shifted away from solo {couples} and speedy households towards bigger group journeys with buddies.

“The immediate family has always been our bread and butter for our leisure traveler here in St. Pete Clearwater, and we haven’t seen that dip necessarily. We’ve just seen an increase in folks coming within those larger groups,” stated Brian Lowack, the president and CEO of Visit St. Pete-Clearwater.

Visitors are additionally choosing shorter stays whereas exploring surrounding space cities like Safety Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, Gulfport, and Madeira. Tax revenues from tourism proceed to fund local people initiatives, together with a latest main seaside nourishment effort.

Across Tampa Bay, Hillsborough County set lodge income data in April and May. High-profile occasions reminiscent of three sold-out BTS live shows at Raymond James Stadium, the Premier League Fan Festival, and the Breakaway Music Festival drove important spending for native hospitality and eating companies.

What we do not know:

Tourism officers haven’t but launched June income numbers for Visit Tampa Bay. It stays unconfirmed how complete summer season customer totals will evaluate to spring efficiency.

Tampa Bay occasion lineup

What’s subsequent:

Visit Tampa Bay expects to obtain its June monetary information inside the subsequent week or two. Meanwhile, Visit St. Pete-Clearwater is getting ready for subsequent spring when it hosts the Ocean Race, a worldwide crusing competitors arriving in May 2027.

Pinellas CountyTourism