- December 15, 2025
In the first quarter of 2012, tourism is up compared to the same time frame last year.
In the first quarter of 2012, local bed tax collections increased 77% over last year., according to Vice President of Tourism Development Georgia Turner. But that’s just the tip of iceberg.
“The stars are kind of aligning,” Turner said, citing the $700,000 in bed taxes already collected this year. “It’s probably one of the best first quarters that the state of Florida has seen in the past four, five years.”
Statewide, tourism numbers have spiked since January 2012, she added, with Flagler being a strong contributor to that growth.
January numbers were up 28%, February was up 32% and March was up 17%.
April continued the trend into the second quarter with a 23% increase.
And Turner sees no reason why that trend would slow down into the summer.
“We think it probably has something to do with (increased) consumer confidence,” she said. Or maybe people got tired of skipping vacations, she suggested, calling it “pent-up demand.” Or maybe it’s the later Easter, the increased youth sports or the lower gas prices.
“I tribute a lot our success … to collaboration with the cities in their different (sports) tournaments,” Tourist Development Council Chairwoman Milissa Holland said, calling sports tourism the new leading focus for Flagler’s travel department.
With Palm Coast leading the charge, Flagler has become huge for lacrosse tournaments and gymnastics, she said. And the Rotary Club of Flagler Beach played host to about 600 half-marathon participants this year.
In creating a sports alliance with municipalities and parks/lodging officials, the county has gotten better about working as a tourism team, Holland said. Promotions have been more strategically organized, and slow “shoulder” seasons have been better identified, allowing the alliance to create a calendar of events that, ideally, has no dry spots.
During winter, for example, Holland sees sports like horseshoes drawing visitors.
“(We have a) great opportunity to take advantage of the trails and the network we’ve created,” she said. “We’ve been able to advance a lot of our initiatives because of a lot of the infrastructure already in place.”
Getting social
In an effort to extend the upward momentum, Turner and Holland have been brainstorming. About three-quarters through a research project to guide their department’s 2012-2013 strategic plan, staff also launched a new resident-participation initiative June 11.
The campaign, set to run the next five weeks, asks residents to share their favorite local memories and activities. By visiting www.facebook.com/visitflagler, or www.VisitFlagler.com, submissions can be entered.
A forum for residents to share Flagler stories is planned for Tuesday, June 26, at the Palm Coast Community Center.
New photo contests, with prizes, are also going live.
“So many of the people who live in this community were visitors first,” Turner said. “So we really want to engage them.”
Quotes submitted online and stories at the Community Center will be reviewed for possible use in tourist promotions.
Those with the best stories will be entered to win a free weekend getaway.
“We’re doing a lot of looking forward,” Holland said. “It’s about engaging the public in a way that we’ve never done before. By including them in the process, it will really give us a great map.”
“The economy really effected travel across the county,” Turner added. “But (this year), it’s all good. Everything’s just really exciting. It really is.”
Visitor profile results are expected by September.
