Historic coast sees surge in summer visitors
Despite nationwide concerns about the economy, St. Augustine Visitors and Convention Bureau Communications Director Jay Humphreys told Historic City News that visitors this summer are coming to Florida’s Historic Coast in record numbers.
Just released July data show the occupancy rate for the area’s seaside resorts, luxury hotels, historic inns and family-friendly lodgings was 66.2 percent- the highest rate since July 2007 – a year that set a record for visitors to the area.
Stretching from Ponte Vedra southward through St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach to Marineland, Florida’s Historic Coast features 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches, world-renowned golfing opportunities, unique history, fine dining, upscale shopping and romantic getaways.
“We are extremely encouraged by these numbers,” said Richard Goldman, executive director of the St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and the Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau. “Tourism is often one of the first victims of an economic downturn, but it’s also a great indicator of consumer confidence. This summer, it’s now obvious that vacationers are confident that Florida’s Historic Coast will provide them with an outstanding and memorable vacation experience.”
Goldman said the strong July showing, coupled with a positive June, have pushed the area’s year-to-date numbers into the positive range for the first time in three years. He credits this success to the Visitors and Convention Bureau’s new publicity, promotions and advertising campaigns, especially the Bureau’s immediate response to vacationers’ concerns about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
“Our area has been a popular vacation destination for more than a century,” Goldman said. “But the economy and the oil spill, despite the fact that it was nearly one thousand miles away, created a sense of uncertainty among potential visitors. Fortunately, we were able to sculpt a message that reminded past visitors that we are even better than they remembered and enticed new visitors to choose us – a choice I’m sure they are now glad they made.”
The occupancy data was just released by Smith Travel Research, an experienced and respected monitor of the American hospitality industry. In addition to the high occupancy rate, the latest report said the number of rooms sold on Florida’s Historic Coast in July (118,379) and the amount of revenue collected ($13.2 million) were also the highest since July 2007.
Category: Business
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One oily summer, an industry it does not make here.
Give it a year and we will be flat on our butts again.
It’s been an industry (successfully) for over a hundred years here – get over it or get out already?
How that Galaxy Columbus Ohio thing work out? Glad we got all those Columbian Millions you said were coming otherwise we would be in trouble. Still a Pollyanna I see.
Oh we been a Tourist town for about 450 years That is our problem. This was a Port of call for sailing ships for their crews to enjoy the “delights” of Florida long before Flagler came through and made it a Personal Playground for him and his Robber Baron friends,
Congratulations on being the ONLY person within a 75 mile radius who can’t read the numbers even after they’ve been spoon fed to you a million times.
Hows that ignorance/denial working for you? Yeah, thought so.
Still haven’t seen any Columbus Money Saving St. Augustine and those number the TDC puts out are bogus. I took Stats too and I can make numbers say anything.
Funny they never explain their methodology to anyone. And I loved the one company that submitted its first report and even the County Commissioners and the City Commission laughed them out of the room and told them to go back and do it again.
..And you will never see any Columbus money (regardless of how many of the rest of us see/saw it) – you are disconnected. It’s just not your bag, man.
Where are they?
Where you hiding the money? City and County are broke.
Where is the airline?
Your financial brilliance is only outshone by the magnitude of your historical knowledge.