Tourism numbers continue downward trend

Sarasota County tourism numbers remain down compared to the prior year as Visit Sarasota County has released July 2024 data.

Compared to July 2023:

• Visitors were 149,800 compared to 153,370, down 2.3%.
• Visitor direct expenditures were $141,012,900 compared to $145,328,800, down 3%.
• Lodging occupancy was 63.6% compared to 68.4%.
• Lodging average room rate was $249.80 compared to $242.96 in 2023
• There were 267,300 room nights sold compared to 285,500.

Shorter lengths of stay and a larger travel party sizes resulted in the decrease in visitors being lower than the decrease in room nights. For the fiscal year to date, the number of visitors is down 8.5% while direct spending is slightly down 1.5%

As for tourist points of origin, visitors from Canada remain elevated compared to the year prior at 4.0% fiscal year to date. Also, there percentage of visitors from the Midwest and Northeast are increased over the year prior, while visitors from Florida and the rest of the Southeast have decreased.

Correction: This article has been updated to correct the percent change in visitors and direct expenditures.