TOURIST FLOCK TO OKALOOSA, WALTON AND SANTA ROSA COUNTIES IN RECORD NUMBERS

TOURIST FLOCK TO OKALOOSA, WALTON, AND SANTA ROSA COUNTIES IN RECORD NUMBERS

Okay folks, I don’t know what to say, but “I told you so”. Just kidding. I have been told, I am a extreme optimist, I am bullish on the Emerald Coast. Well what I am is, a realist, someone who does my homework, observe and participant in a wide array of business related functions, which cross many lines. I also listen attentively to customers on their motivations and seek out data in order to understand their actions. With this said, I believe the information, which I have passed along from the movement of new military units, new businesses, our great education system, new interest in our tourism, are just a reflection that we are in one of the bright spots in this country and we are lucky to be here. Now, just on the horizon, we have the annual “Snow Bird” migration coming and they have also been coming in record numbers to run from the cold of the winter. Put that together with some great pricing, some record low interest rates, combined with our great atmosphere and surrounding beauty of the country side to the emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico, you will be seeing a large number of “Baby Boomers” coming here to call our area home. So read on to some more great news on our area, it is some interesting stuff.

Emerald Coast sets bed tax record
July revenues were the most ever for Okaloosa, Walton and Santa Rosa counties
By DUSTY RICKETTS, Northwest Florida Daily News 315-4448 dricketts@nwfdailynews.com  
July was another record-breaking month for the tourism industry in Northwest Florida. Tourist development agencies in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties all recorded their highest bed tax collections ever in a single month in July, officials said. “It was unbelievable . I think it far exceeded many of our expectations,” said Mark Bellinger, executive director of the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council. “It was the best month since we’ve been keeping statistics in the past 20 years. It far exceeded all the numbers.” Bed tax collections were up 85 percent in Okaloosa compared to July 2010. Collections were up 53 percent in Walton County and 67 percent in Santa Rosa County compared to July a year ago. Okaloosa collected $1.1 million in taxes on short-term rentals in July. Santa Rosa collected $185,168. Figures for Walton were not available. Bellinger said the region’s tourism agencies worked together following last year’s oil spill to bring visitors back, and the efforts have paid off. Dawn Moliterno, executive director of the Walton County TDC, agreed. “We knew we were going to have a good July based on the feedback we were getting,” Moliterno said. “We had no idea we would fare as incredibly well as we did. “Overall, we’re excited, we want to keep the momentum going,” she added. “We’re seeing good signs through the shoulder season, and we just want that to continue to carry us into a solid spring next year.” The TDCs are now focused on drawing tourists for the fall months. The Okaloosa TDC is promoting the Destin Seafood Festival and Destin Fishing Rodeo. The Santa Rosa TDC has its sand-sculpting contest later this month and the annual Beaches to Woodlands event in October. “You know how pretty September and October are around here, and I think people are beginning to realize that,” said Kate Wilkes, executive director of the Santa Rosa TDC. Moliterno said a strong shoulder season now is the best way to promote the area for next summer. “Fall is a great time for weddings. Fall is a great time for a romantic getaway or a girls’ trip or a guys’ golf trip. By bringing them back and reminding them how beautiful this place is, that keeps in the forefront when they’re building their family vacations for that following year. It’s really important to keep them coming back time and time again, and not just a once a year vacation.”