Foreign travel markets across the globe are opening and Anna Maria Island stands to benefit.
Members of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council learned June 21 that word of Floridians resuming “normal” life patterns is spreading, emboldening travelers to visit the state.
Manatee County, and especially AMI, continues to top past years’ tourism numbers, according to research provided by Anne Wittine of Research Data Services Inc. at the TDC meeting at the county administration building in Bradenton.
Since the start of Florida’s phased reopening in May 2020, Wittine’s company has conducted surveys to determine potential travelers’ readiness level as pandemic life became a reality.
For the first time since beginning the surveys, Wittine’s May research found the highest percentage of people “travel-ready” at 40.3%.
The May and early-June research also indicated personal finance and economic optimism is the highest among those surveyed since April 2020.
Wittine anticipated sharing international travel numbers in July.
“We’re still going to be seeing a lot of this pent-up demand coming and feeding this market,” Wittine told the TDC.
“We have many European visitors that stay with us and they are chomping at the bit to come back to Florida and the United States,” TDC member Eric Cairns — owner of Cedar Cove Resorts and Cottages, 2710 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach — said.
“And those doors are opening,” Wittine assured Cairns and the rest of the council.
Despite the positivity, Wittine said only 53% of people feel like traveling is getting back to normal.
Other concerns on travelers’ minds, according to Wittine, relate to violence on airplanes and confrontations about masks and health safety.
The TDC will next meet at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 16, in the county chambers, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.About the TDC
The TDC makes recommendations to the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners regarding the operation of projects in the tourist development plan and budgeting recommendations for the tourist development tax — a 5% bed tax on accommodations of six months or less.
The council includes county commissioner Misty Servia, chair, vice chair Vernon DeSear, Eric Cairns, Ed Chiles, Jiten Patel, Rahul Patel, Jack Rynerson, Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown and Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant.
For more information about the TDC, call Monica Luff at 941-729-9177 or email monica.luff@bacvb.com.
About the TDC
The TDC makes recommendations to the Manatee Board of County Commissioners regarding the operation of projects in the tourist development plan and budgeting recommendations for the tourist development tax — a 5% bed tax on accommodations of six months or less.
The council includes County Commissioner Misty Servia, chair, vice chair Vernon DeSear, Eric Cairns, Ed Chiles, Jiten Patel, Rahul Patel, Jack Rynerson, Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown and Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant.
For more information, call 941-729-9177 or email info@bacvb.com.