Tourism 'trending better'

Spring break marks the elevation of the season when vacationers and snowbirds benefit from the beaches, but some in the industry say this season looks different.

“We are not seeing the numbers we as a rule have for this time of year,” said Kara Morgan, CEO of Venice Key Street.

Morgan said the growing season has been good, however the COVID-19 pandemic has made a major impact on tourism this year.

People are not traveling just as much as before, Morgan said. She expectations that seasonal visitors will expand their stay longer than typically scheduled because so many arrived later.

Even though the growing season has been slower than usual, Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, said accommodations were at 90% occupancy the other day. She said there are strong bookings through summer.

“We have been successful since July, and we are trending much better than the rest of the country,” Haley said.

Charlotte County numbers express that county hasn’t taken quite as being big a hit in tourism as the country and other Florida destinations just like Orlando.

“There continues to be a pent-up demand out there for traveling,” said Sean Doherty, tourism director at Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor and Convention Bureau.

January numbers only show these were down by .9%, regarding to Doherty.

However, he explained, the Canadians who usually come down during time of year didn’t travel south immediately after leaving for home in 2020, and that’s significant, given that they account for 6-7% of winter season vacationers.

Despite lower tourist numbers this year, some vacationers are excited to travel after planting season break was cancelled this past year at the start of the pandemic.

The Remey family of Indiana took their first visit to Venice Beach this season after years of vacationing around the area.

The Remeys come down to visit their family around Tampa and decided to finally browse the Venice beaches after traveling along the coast likely to other beaches through the years.

Rachel Remey said her boys wished to fish plus they heard they could fish from the jetty. Like many persons, she said they also wished to get some shark teeth while spending time at the beach.

“We are able to do touristy things - but also move away from each of the tourists,” Remey said.

Unlike other areas, the Suncoast fared well with promoting outdoor pursuits like the beaches that allow persons to feel safer venturing out.

While the tourism industry cannot change the factors against them through the pandemic, they even now remain hopeful for the future.

Doherty believes as time passes, the tourism numbers will return back up again.

Morgan seems hopeful for a good season next year.

“Hopefully more people are certain to get vaccinated and can feel better and safer traveling,” Morgan said.