TAMPA, February 10, 2020 |Tourism revenues for the month JanuaryHillsborough County, which recorded the strongest record, reached historical highs JanuaryOn record for Tampa Bay tourism. Record-breaking $3.38 Million in Tourist Development funds were collected by Hillsborough County – the first ever $3 million revenue month of January ever reported.
These results are based upon December hotel stays and support by industry analyst STR Inc. They represent a 27.7% rise over the previous record. JanuarySets of collections in 2018. County tax revenues for the month JanuaryThe total amount reached $56.4 Million, an increase of 6.52% over the previous record. JanuarySet in 2019. Visit Tampa Bay’s most recent fiscal year 2018-19, where nine of the twelve months of the organization’s budget year (Oct. 1 – Sept. 30), produced records for Tourist Development funding.
Additional $564,134 is generated by the one-cent increase. inThe Tourist Development Levy has increased from 5 percent to 6 per cent as of August 1, 2019, The additional revenue is not required. January’s collections were still a new benchmark for the month. The strength of Hillsborough County’s tourism helped the county become Florida’s ninth High Impact Tourism county in2018 after Tourism Development funds exceed $600 million inCalendar years 2017 and 2018.
“January isn’t just the start of the year, it’s the beginning of Tampa Bay’s peak visitation months,”Santiago C. Corrada is the President and CEO at Visit Tampa Bay. “Annual events like the Outback Bowl, Gasparilla season, and large conventions including the Florida Music Education Association Annual Conference, kick off the year bringing in tens of thousands of visitors every January,” Corrada said. “Our out-of-area advertising campaigns are also now in full swing in the Northeast, Midwest and U.K. markets. Along with Online Travel Agencies reporting massive growth in demand from Holland and the United Kingdom, these January results highlight the ability of Visit Tampa Bay to effectively market to targeted consumers.”
Tourist Development Funds collected in the first 4 months of Visit Tampa Bay’s current fiscal year total $12,334,931, a 24.7% increase over the same four-month period the previous year. The records for both fiscal year-todate and month-total collected amounts are for their respective periods.
“With 1,000 new hotels rooms recently completed, and another 2,000 on the horizon, 2020 is looking to be another strong year for tourism and visitation in Tampa Bay,” Corrada said. “The multibillion-dollar developments taking place throughout the county will transform the area and ensure we are prepared to host larger national events like NCAA National Championships, Wrestlemania, and the Super Bowl for years to come.”
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About Visit Tampa Bay
The hip, urban heart of Florida’s Gulf coast beats in Tampa Bay. Visit Tampa BayEncourages adventure travelers to discover sun, fun, culture in Florida’s most diverse travel destination. We are a non-profit corporation working with 800 partners to tell the story of Florida. Tampa Bay. There is treasure waiting for you.
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