Tourists flock to Amelia Island despite rising costs
Florida politics
By Wes Wolffe
May 22, 2022
Occupancy is up 8% in hotels, while the average daily rate is up 19%.
There aren’t enough people who want the service jobs offered on Amelia Island, for a variety of reasons. Without enough workers to properly service the island’s hotels and resorts at full capacity, the management of these properties have taken measures such as raising their rates, but tourist demand remains strong.
According to figures received on Tuesday for traditional accommodation on the island, occupancy is up 8%, while the average daily rate is up 19%.
“What’s really amazing is to take a look at revenue for 12 consecutive months, which is actually up 85%, year over year,” said Amy Boek, director Marketing for the Amelia Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, Nassau County Council. Commissioners this week. “Last year around this time there was a 15% drop, so to see this gigantic growth is really amazing for us.”
During the discussion between the commissioners, they said what they hear is that what is holding back tourism is that there are not enough people to fill the accommodation jobs open.
“I think that’s one of the reasons we’re seeing such incredible rates is that so many of our accommodations are raising their rates in an attempt to reduce occupancy, but people are still paying for it. So they don’t cap that occupancy fee. It certainly helps in our bed tax collections.
Local leaders are now planning for the region’s tourism future, beginning to raise awareness of related projects on beach harmonization and strategic tourism planning.
The Beach Harmonization Project aims to develop, as the name suggests, a unified long-term vision and plan for the island’s seven beach parks – North Beach, Main Beach, Seaside Park, Peters Point, Burney Park, the Scott Road Access Point and the South Road Access.
The tourism strategy effort, called Nassau Next, aims to provide a ten-year plan for job creation and economic expansion.
Project details and ways to provide feedback are online at MemoriesMaking.com
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