With faculty in session and Labor Day within the rear-view mirror, it’s a good time to examine on summer time tourism in West Volusia.
Georgia Turner, govt director of the West Volusia Tourism Promoting Authority, is happy with the summer time tourism season, to date. The “summers of ’21 and ’22 have been actually, actually good.”
The previous summer time ranks among the many greatest. Ms. Turner stated June and July have been “like we by no means had earlier than.”
The purpose is underscored by inspecting conference improvement tax collections. For fiscal 12 months 2019-20, conference improvement tax assortment was $543,394 and, for 2020-21, it was $ 607,047. For 2021-22, it’s already at $790,391 and there are nonetheless two extra months to go within the fiscal 12 months.
With the Covid-19 pandemic waning, that quantity may maintain going up.
What brings individuals to West Volusia are occasions like Preservation on Principal Road. It was the primary time in six years DeLand had hosted the convention. The July convention introduced “about 200 individuals” to downtown DeLand, Ms. Turner stated.
In August, “We profit from NASCAR and Stetson (College) college students coming again,” Ms. Turner defined. She described how Stetson’s move-in weekend and homecoming are particularly useful for tourism.
If individuals are not coming to West Volusia for a particular occasion like a baby going to varsity or a convention, they most likely are coming for an air present, artwork present, honest or competition.
The perfect is but to come back for WVTAA. Ms. Turner famous fall and winter mix to be their excessive season for tourism. “There’s a lot happening,” she stated. “Fall is our hottest occasion season in West Volusia. Particularly Stetson mansion.”
Stetson Mansion is a 136-year-old gem that incorporates a Christmas tour spectacular starting Nov. 1 and operating by means of Jan. 21.
This fall additionally brings a brand new occasion to West Volusia. The Barberville Pioneer Settlement will host the primary Worldwide Florida Noticed Competition. Nonetheless, they aren’t sawing down timber; they’re taking part in music. Sure, on Oct. 22, musicians that play the musical noticed will collect in Barberville to entertain and compete.
The West Volusia Tourism Promoting Authority gained’t relaxation on the summer time success. For fiscal 12 months 2022-23, they’re rolling out a brand new web site, reaching out to new markets, similar to LGBTQIA+ and promoting in new territories like southern Florida.
