ANNA MARIA ISLAND – COVID-19 has overtaken red tide as tourism’s worst nemesis in Manatee County.
For the first time since October 2018, when a persistent red tide was plaguing Anna Maria Island, tourism is down on all three Island cities and Manatee County, according to March tourist tax statistics just published by the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office.
Tourism in Anna Maria is down 46% from March of 2019, Bradenton Beach is down 64%, Holmes Beach is down 46% and Manatee County overall is down 52%.
The last time all four municipalities were down at the same time was in October 2018, three months into a red tide that began locally in early August 2018 and originated in late 2017 in southwest Florida.
The October 2018 red tide numbers were considerably less grim than March 2020’s COVID-19 numbers, with Anna Maria down 1%, Bradenton Beach down 24%, Holmes Beach down 16% and Manatee County overall down 3%.
March’s drastic downturn is in sharp contrast to February’s upturn in all four municipalities, with Anna Maria’s tourism numbers up 30%, Bradenton Beach up 4%, Holmes Beach up 45% and Manatee County up 16%.
Manatee County’s 5% resort tax, or tourist tax, is collected from owners of accommodations rented for six months or less who charge the tax to their renters, in most cases, tourists.
About 50% of the tax proceeds are allocated to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau tourism marketing efforts, with 20% allocated to beach renourishment. The tax also funds tourism-related attractions such as the Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria piers.
Manatee County totals include Anna Maria Island cities, Bradenton, the portion of Longboat Key within Manatee County, unincorporated Manatee County and Palmetto.
