A visitor profile identifies Floridians as the largest group of tourists flocking to Manatee County.
The profile was to be presented Dec. 14 to the Manatee County Tourist Development Council by Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors’ consultant Anne Wittine of Research Data Services Inc.
The meeting was set for the Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto, as The Islander went to press.
Wittine’s report indicates a 109.9% increase in the estimated number of visitors from Florida between September 2019 and 2020.
The report also shows a 12.5% increase in visitors originating from the Southeast, while indicating decreases in visitors from the Northeast and Midwest — down 41.5% and 38.2% respectively.
Canadian and European visitor profiles show a 100% decrease with an asterisk, as “September 2020’s European and Canadian visitation was too small to measure,” according to Wittine’s report. COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions have restricted travel from Europe and Canada since the spring.
Of 46,000 visitors in September, the profile shows 32,340 were Floridians, 3,500 were from the Southeast, 3,910 from the Northeast, 4,460 from the Midwest and 1,790 from markets of opportunity.
The report further indicates the influx of in-state visitors correlated to a 12% increase in island lodging occupancy and a 5.6% increase in room rates and ultimately a rise in revenue during the same period of comparison.
And, according to the resort tax collection report from the Manatee County Tax Collector, tourism revenue continued to increase in October, with the three island cities generating $451,778 from the resort tax, a 5% tax charged on rentals of six months or less collected by the government.
About the TDC
The TDC consists of nine people, appointed by the county commission, that usually meets the third Monday of every other month at 9 a.m. at varied locations.
As of Dec. 10, the TDC included Manatee County Commissioner Misty Servia, Vernon DeSear, Ed Chiles, Eric Cairns, Jack Rynerson, Jiten Patel, Barbara Baker, Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant and Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston. The term for Poston, who did not seek reelection in November, will end Jan. 5, 2021.
For more about the TDC, call Monica Luff at 941-729-9177 or email monica.luff@bacvb.com.