Florida’s economic recovery helps Sarasota-Bradenton tourism

Published on : Wednesday, July 7, 2021

By the time May comes around, snowbirds have usually flocked back to their native northern lands, and other tourists are usually off on a European vacation or some other weeklong getaway while their kids are on summer break.

As Florida was one of the first states to reopen after the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sarasota-Bradenton area has seen a huge influx of travellers that has led to a tourism boom in the area. Room rates in both counties and the number of visitors in the area are up significantly compared to the same period two years before.

Florida’s “open for business” status is a factor, experts say, but so is an aggressive marketing strategy from state tourism bureau Visit Florida, plus the fact that domestic travellers don’t have a ton of other options. But at the moment, the state is enjoying a tourism boom that experts said would likely continue throughout the summer.

“We’re outpacing 2019 summer numbers, and I expect to keep on that track throughout the summer,” Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said. “And keep in mind, we’re outpacing it without the international market.”

Sarasota County saw 155,100 visitors in May 2021, an increase of nearly 34% compared to the same month in 2019, according to data provided by Visit Sarasota County.

Hotel occupancy was at 78 per cent in May, compared to 64.5 per cent two years ago, and the average daily room rate increased to $213.51 from $165.74 in May 2019.

“It goes without saying that this was the best May in our history,” Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County said.

Manatee County saw 83,400 visitors in April, the most recent month for which data were available, according to numbers provided by the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. That’s an increase of 31 per cent over 2019.

The average daily rate was down four per cent from 2019 in April to $193.55 but hotel occupancy was 11 per cent higher at 83.1 per cent.

Falcione said he expects tourism to be especially strong until around April 2022. Tourism is strong right now because international travel is still closed, he said, and a lot of U.S. travellers are coming to Florida because they know it’s a safe bet for a getaway with basically no COVID restrictions. Hopefully, the international markets will open up again soon, he said.