Lee County shares pandemic's effect on tourism

The Tourist Development Council says revenue from Lee County's bed tax was down by 20 percent in June compared to last year.

The number of overnight stays in hotels was cut in half from April to June.

(13S)IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY, ROB MANCHFOX 4 IN YOUR CORNER.THE OFFICIAL NUMBERS ARE OUT.LEE COUNTY REVEALING WHERETOURISM STANDS DURING THEPANDEMIC.AT NO SURPRISE━ THERE’S ADECLINEESPECIALLY FOR OVERNIGHTSTAYS AT HOTELS.THOSE WERE CUT IN HALF A FEWMONTHS AGO.A LOCAL RESORT TELLS FOUR INYOUR CORNER’S RACHEL LOYD HOWTHIS ALL AFFECTS THEIR BUSINESS.(32-37)(106-113)When you take the average of theweek - the seven days, and youonly have two full..that reallyracks your occupancy rate.ANDREA CARRIERE OWNS SILVERSANDS IN FORT MYERS BEACH.

SHESAYS THERE’S REALLY ONLY TWODAYS WHERE SHE SEES A STREAM OFGUESTS.You know, and it’s basicallybeen weekends.

Nothing duringthe week.

I mean, you could dropa bomb off in the place and nothurt anybody.THE SMALL RESORT CLOSED IN MARCHAS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASUREANDLOST $50,000 FROMCANCELLATIONS.AND THEY’RE STILLLOSING CONSIDERING THEY’VESLASHED PRICES JUST TO BOOKROOMS.Because now your occupancy is atsay $100, and in March it’s$250.NATSSILVER SANDS IS JUST ONE OFHUNDREDS OF HOTELS IN THE AREATAKING A HIT FROM THE PANDEMIC.TAMARA PIGOTT WITH THE LEECOUNTY VISITOR AND CONVENTIONBUREAU SHARED THE DECLININGTOURISM NUMBERS WITH COUNTYCOMMISSIONERS TODAY.I think the last time we had ameeting, I had the exactopposite number on the screen.

Ithink we were up 20percent.BUT THIS YEAR REVENUE FROM THEBED TAX WAS *DOWN BY 20 PERCENTFROM APRIL THROUGH JUNEAND THENUMBER OF OVERNIGHT STAYS INHOTELS WAS CUT IN HALF DURINGTHAT SAME TIMEBUT PIGOTT ISOPTIMISTIC.<The pandemic continues, andpeople are cautious, so we’recertainly not at our normalnumbers, but are are starting tosee those number come up a bit.CARRIERE SAYS THEY’RE ALREADYSOLD OUT FOR LABOR DAY WEEKENDAT SILVER SANDS.

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