In his annual Visitor Profile, Walter Klages of Research Data Services reported that the number of total overnight guests to the St. Pete/Clearwater area in calendar year 2011 came in at 5,235,200. That number represents an increase of nearly 200,000 visitors over last year’s total.
Of that mark, more than half stayed in local accommodations (2.7 million), with the remainder (2.52 million) falling into the ‘VFR’ (visiting friends/relatives) category. This year’s tally nears the all-time record for visitation of 5.3 million overnight visitors, which was set back in 2007.
Visitation from the in-state market, along with the United States’ Southeast, Northeast and Midwest, all saw an increase. On the International front, the Canadian, European and Latin American segments saw a similar boost.
Direct expenditures and total economic impact each saw a 6.4% increase over 2010.
For Klages’ full report, with a breakdown of the number of visitors from each of the area’s major feeder markets, click here.
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