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Visitors decline 21.5 percent from March of 2008 to March of 2009

Sally avatar
SallyBeach Fanatic
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The Defuniak Herald ? EMPTY BEDS EQUALS LESS REVENUE
By LEAH STRATMANN

While the number of visitors to the area decreased 21.5 percent from March of 2008 to March of 2009, the news wasn?t all bad, according to records kept by the South Walton Tourist Development Council (TDC) and provided last week at the monthly meeting of TDC.
Filling in for the missing treasurer, executive director Sonny Mares reported that overall revenue so far in 2009 is down 13.3 percent, but for several consecutive years prior to last year there were increases in the numbers every year. ?Even with reduced revenue, we are on a par with numbers from 2006 to 2007,? he said.
?The April numbers will reflect spring break numbers and June to September are the heaviest months. I have heard bookings are strong for these months. I think people?s confidence in travel will return,? Mares noted......

Replies

6
30A Skunkape avatar
30A SkunkapeSkunky
#2
The Defuniak Herald ? EMPTY BEDS EQUALS LESS REVENUE
By LEAH STRATMANN

I have to agree with Mr Mares. Seeing the crowds amassed outside the local restaurants waiting for a table, I can't imagine the people will be staying away for too long considering that we are heavily patronized in 'tough times'.
Beach Runner avatar
Beach Runnerbeats on hood
#3
We had no May rentals, and we usually have 4. We even reduced the price. Normually by April 15 June and July and two weeks in August are full. This year June is full, but we have two weeks available in July and no rentals in August.😱
ShallowsNole avatar
ShallowsNoleBeach Fanatic
#4
Visitors are down, but I wouldn't say visitors are down 21.5%. Bed tax collections were down 21.6% for March, but those numbers are also a reflection of rates (which are dropping) and shorter stays, as well as number of visitors. Make no mistake, tourism is down, but we are on par with the rest of the area.

Also - and this didn't dawn on me until yesterday - Easter was in March in 2008. That makes a huge difference.

Nothing official here, but you have to have April numbers to see what kind of a spring we really had. :cool:
30A Skunkape avatar
30A SkunkapeSkunky
#5
Visitors are down, but I wouldn't say visitors are down 21.5%. Bed tax collections were down 21.6% for March, but those numbers are also a reflection of rates (which are dropping) and shorter stays, as well as number of visitors. Make no mistake, tourism is down, but we are on par with the rest of the area.

Also - and this didn't dawn on me until yesterday - Easter was in March in 2008. That makes a huge difference.

Nothing official here, but you have to have April numbers to see what kind of a spring we really had. :cool:

The devil really is in the details. I wonder how many people backed out of Memorial weekend after seeing how crappy the weather would be.
TooFarTampa avatar
TooFarTampaSoWal Insider
#6
The devil really is in the details. I wonder how many people backed out of Memorial weekend after seeing how crappy the weather would be.

If they paid for a house or condo, they can't back out. :wave:

But Memorial Day week is early this year, and rates certainly are down.
Beach Bimmer avatar
Beach BimmerBeach Fanatic
#7
Easter was in March in 2008. That makes a huge difference. Nothing official here, but you have to have April numbers to see what kind of a spring we really had. :cool:

Indeed we saw that at Fired Up. March was okay, and then the Easter bunny took a big jump....

;-)

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