Pasco County attracted nearly 1.5 million visitors during fiscal year 2022, and impact from tourism on the economy was more than $916.5 million, according to a report shared with the Pasco County Commission last week.
In terms of direct spending, tourism generated more than $636.6 million. That’s up 24% over fiscal year 2021.
The tourism industry also generated 11,403 jobs, totaling $288.2 million in wages.
For every 130 visitors to Pasco County, a job is created, said Adam Thomas, executive director for Florida’s Sports Coast, the county’s Destination Management Organization.
In terms of revenues, the county received slightly more than $5 million in Tourist Development Tax revenues collected for more than 1.5 million room nights generated in Pasco’s short-term rental accommodations.
Pasco restaurants, gas stations, hotels, shopping and entertainment venues benefit from the traffic tourism brings to the area, but Pasco residents benefit, too.
Thomas said that revenues generated by tourism saved an estimated $384 per Pasco County household in fiscal year 2022.
That figure is based on how much more revenue the county would have had to generate to provide the same amount of services as it provided — with the economic boost provided by tourism, Thomas explained.
With the exception of 2020, when the pandemic hit, Pasco’s tourism trends have been up for the past five years, Thomas said.
“People are noticing us, they’re coming here, they’re experiencing our product from a visitor perspective and the market is rich, in terms of tourism,” Thomas added.
The county’s tourism marketing efforts also are paying off, according to Thomas.
Every dollar spent on marketing the destination results in $106 in visitor spending, he said.
The report also tracks how visitors arrive to Pasco, how long they’ve been planning their trip, where they are coming from and how long they stay.
It turns out that 90% of Pasco visitors drive into the market and 47% of them planned their trip within a month of traveling.
Of those staying in the area, 25% stayed at hotels or motels and 17% stayed with family or friends.
About 38% of the visitors traveled with one or more children, and about 25% traveled to the area to attend or participate in a sporting event.
Three in five visitors stayed one or more nights, and the average stay was four nights. Typical travel parties spent $227 per day, with an average of $982 over the course of their trip.
Thomas’ comments to the board were based on a report completed by Downs & St. Germain Research Inc.
Downs & St. German has been partnering with several events, tourism attractions, venues and short-term rental accommodations since 2018, in order to run face-to-face, phone, and online surveys with Pasco County visitors.
As a result of those efforts, the research company compiles profiles of visitors coming to Pasco County and quantifies the economic impact of tourism.
Florida’s Sports Coast, Pasco’s Destination Management Organization, uses the information to better target its marketing efforts to increase tourism in Pasco.
Pasco tourism by the numbers
These figures are from a report compiled by Downs & St. Germain Research, comparing fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2021:
Economic impacts:
- Overall economic impact: $916.6 million, up 27%
- Visitor spend: $636.6 million, up 24%
- Room occupancy: 68.1%, up 1.5%
- Average daily rate: $119, up 28.7%
- Room nights: 1.5 million, up 7%
- Local jobs created: 11,403, up 23%
- Wages and salaries: $2.9 million, up 24%
- Tourist Development Tax: $5 million, up 39%
Visitor profile
- Average visitor: Is 49 years old, female, with income of $90,800
- 90% drive into the area; 10% fly through Tampa International Airport
- The typical stay is 4.3 nights
- Travel parties spend $227 per day; $982 over course of visit
Top visitor activities
- Casual dining: 73%
- Shopping: 54%
- Seeing family and friends: 54%
- Visiting parks and nature: 52%
Top desired additional activities
- More restaurants: 26%
- More family friendly activities: 23%
- More outdoor activities: 23%
- More sporting events: 22%
Published March 01, 2023
