4
THE SUN
ISLAND NEWS
Visit our website, www.amisun.com. Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.
IN BRIEF
OCTOBER 27, 2021
TDC hears tourism update
Trunk or Treats offered at two Island churches CrossPointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, invites you to bring the kids to its free Trunk or Treat event on Wednesday, Oct. 27 from 6:30-8 p.m. There will be games, candy and a great time in a safe environment. Call 941-778-0719 or info@mycpf.org for more information. Gloria Dei Lutheran Church will hold its free Trunk or Treat event on Halloween, Sunday, Oct. 31, from 5-7 p.m. at the church, 6608 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach. Children can show off their costumes and trick or treat safely.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The new City Pier Park playground was installed last week.
Playground installed at City Pier Park A new playground has been installed at City Pier Park in Anna Maria, across the street from the City Pier. In June, the city commission approved the $30,909 playground purchase and installation by Playground Boss. The new playground includes a single-wave slide, a small merry-go-round, a swing set and blue rubber mulch. The commission also requested benches and fencing to be installed around the playground.
Commission application period ends this week The month-long application period for those interested in appointment to a two-year term on the Anna Maria City Commission ends Sunday, Oct. 31. Applications can be downloaded at the city website, www.cityofannamaria. com, or obtained in person from the city clerk’s office. Applicants must have been residents of the city of Anna Maria for at least two years before seeking this appointed seat. Anna Maria commissioners earn $400 per month. The four sitting commissioners will make the appointment in November, after the Nov. 2 elections conclude. The new commissioner will take office in December.
Ann Wittine, with Research Data Services, presented the Manatee County TDC with her state of tourism report at the Oct. 18 meeting. BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | JSCHAFFER@AMISUN.COM
BRADENTON - Local tourism is on the increase, according to Ann Wittine, of Tampa-based Research Data Services, who gave a report on Oct. 18 to the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC). The bi-monthly report outlines dozens of statistics that give county tourism officials an overview of visitor sentiment, length of stay, number of visitors, places likely to visit and more vital information. Airline passenger data from the Transportation Security Administration from 2019 to present shows that patterns have nearly returned to pre-COVID levels, according to Wittine. “Even with red tide, and even with (COVID-19) case numbers rising, we’re seeing a normal pattern. As case numbers drop, we see the number of people traveling through U.S. airports also going up," she said. The number of passengers passing through Sarasota Bradenton International Airport is higher than any other airport in Florida month over month, she said. August visitation was up 12%, room nights were up 7% and the economic impact was up 17.1% from $43,613,000 to $51,051,700, according to Wittine. Those numbers are increases over 2019, which was prior to COVID-19. The annual economic impact from 2020 to 2021 is up 38.5% from $867,630,800 to $1,201,878,400. Wittine’s report shows that while August visitors from Florida were down 11.1% from last year, visitors from the northeast were up an impressive 113%. With Canada and much of Europe recently easing travel restrictions, it’s likely the flat numbers from those regions will rise significantly, she said.
TRAVELER SENTIMENT
With each bi-monthly report, Research Data Services conducts a traveler sentiment survey that asks potential travelers from around the world questions about concerns related to travel to Anna Maria Island and other Manatee County destinations. When asked what one word would best describe their feelings about travel right now, only 28% of respondents used a positive word. This number is the same as last month, so no change was recorded. People surveyed were a little less confident about the economy, personal health and personal finances compared to September, but not by a significant amount. The number of green light travelers was at 48.9%, which is not a significant change from recent months. Green light travelers are those surveyed who are ready and willing to travel at this time. The red light travelers (people who are not willing to travel) are the same as last month at 25.1% and the number that has currently booked vacations stays virtually unchanged at 34.1%. The survey also asked a question for the first time: "Are things back to normal?" The survey shows that 39% of people think conditions are back to normal.
