The Brief
- Pinellas County spring tourism broke all-time records, generating more than $36 million in hotel bed taxes from February through April.
- The massive economic surge is saving local residents roughly $2,000 per household in property taxes.
- Local officials credit an extended spring break and major sporting events for keeping area hotels and businesses booming.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A surge in tourism is bringing record-breaking economic impacts to Pinellas County.
Pinellas tourism boom
What we know:
Tourism generates an annual economic impact of more than $10 billion for the area, according to Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. Officials said the region just experienced its strongest spring on record.
Data shows 4.7 million people visited between February and April. Those visitors generated more than $36 million in Tourist Development Tax, also known as the hotel bed tax.…