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We have one of the most successful tourism
promotion programs in the area led by our very own, Ebe Bower,
recently named by the Tampa Bay Business Journal among the “Top
20 of the Most Influential Travel & Tourism People in Tampa
Bay.”
The Chamber recognizes the value of tourism to our area and
works diligently with our tourism industry partners to expand
economic activity in the community and further the quality of
life we enjoy.
Tourism is a big contributor to the quality of life we enjoy in
Clearwater and in all of Pinellas County. Because tourism is the
leading industry in the County regarding economic impact (6.65
billion dollars) and overall number of jobs (85,000), it also
plays a significant role in our area’s low unemployment rates.
Last year saw record visitation to the state (85.8 million
visitors) and to the county (13.6 million), translating into 3.3
billion dollars in new money to the area. Each time visitors buy
gas, rent a room or pay sales tax, we benefit. Dollars generated
from tourism account for 20% of Florida’s sales tax revenue, a
portion of which is returned to the county to be applied toward
public schools, road improvements, cultural amenities, medical
and educational programs, beach renourishment and more.
Florida
Tax Watch
states that “public and private infrastructure,
cultural, recreational, and entertainment activities…clearly
could not be supported at current levels by the state’s
non-tourist economy…. This net revenue permits a higher level of
government services to be enjoyed by residents than would be
available without increased taxes.” This revenue helps Florida
remain a non-income tax state.
With the area experiencing a change in visitor demographics,
it’s as important as ever to continue to be hospitable and kind
to all who visit. Increasingly, our visitors are flying here
(almost 72%) with almost 1/3 of our visitation by international
residents; both of these groups spend more here on vacation than
our domestic visitors who drive. The median household income of
our visitors has also been increasing the last year.
We as a community boast local amenities which include the best
man-made attractions in the world, tremendous cultural, natural
and heritage offerings and a myriad of restaurants, all because
we are a popular visitor destination.
2007 Tourism Division Partner
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