TAMPA, Fla — If you’re taking a trip or plan on flying to get away for a spring or summer trip, you’re not alone. Travel experts say Americans are topping pre-pandemic travel numbers.
More than 670 million people took to the skies across the country last year. That's a big increase from 2020 when more than 335 million took to the skies despite being at the height of a pandemic.
Here in Tampa Bay, we’re seeing the same as officials at the Tampa International Airport say they saw more holiday travelers this past year than they did before the pandemic in 2019. Those numbers are only expected to increase as travel experts say the industry is set to make a big rebound this spring.
Vacation management rental management platform, Vacasa reports more remote workers, parents and millennials have Spring Break travel plans to include our Florida beach destinations of Destin, Clearwater and St. Pete.
Air DNA reports vacation bookings are up between 30 and 60 percent in small cities and resort destinations.
AAA says its travel advisors are busier than ever scheduling getaways.
If you plan on traveling, AAA says it's best to prepare for bigger crowds, plan for things to take a little more time, and you may want to consider travel insurance.
Here in Florida, tourism accounts for more than a quarter of our state’s sales tax revenue. It is our biggest economic driver. With more people moving to the Tampa Bay area, our hotels, restaurants, and beaches are driving a lot of those tourism dollars.
Visit Tampa Bay reports we pulled in $758 million dollars last year in tourism dollars. That’s a $50 million increase from the previous high set before the pandemic in 2019.