Tourist Development Tax collection hits all-time record at $20 million in FY2016
SARASOTA, Fla. (November 18, 2016) – Visit Sarasota County (VSC) officially announced the year-end numbers for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 (October 1, 2015-September 30, 2016) at the Tourist Development Council yesterday. In FY 2016, Tourist Development Tax (TDT) collection increased to $20,010,244, representing a 4.9% increase over FY2015. In FY2016, 1,147,350 visitors stayed in paid lodging representing an increase of 1.4%, and both direct expenditures and economic impact increased 3.4% over FY2015.
“We are excited to share this news,” said Virginia J. Haley, CDME, president of Visit Sarasota County. “Overall tax collections in Sarasota County were record-breaking indicating visitor spending in the destination was strong and the tourism industry will continue to work together to continue this momentum.”
Average Daily Rate (ADR) increased year over and occupancy rates were down less than one percent.
Visit Sarasota County leads and supports the tourism industry in Sarasota County by providing the highest quality, and most innovative, marketing programs and promotions to ensure the continued growth of tourism and travel from visitors around the world. It is the mission of VSC to make Sarasota County the must experience destination on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
