Lee VCB updates industry news
During the month of July 2011, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel hosted 396,103 visitors, who spent about $202.8 million, Davidson-Peterson Associates reported this week to the Lee County Tourist Development Council.
Total visitation decreased 14.3 percent from July 2010, but the number of visitors staying in paid accommodations increased 10.8 percent; total expenditures increased 11.3 percent. Year-to-date, visitations are down 1.8 percent from last year, but estimated total expenditures jumped 15.4 percent over the same period last year. Also, tourist tax collection for July 2011 is up 21.5 percent.
In transportation news .
During July 2011, 457,194 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers, a decrease of 6.7 percent compared to July 2010. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is up 4.2 percent from the same period last year.
Base Ops at Page Field in Fort Myers opened Aug. 31, 2011, on the west side of the airport off of Fowler Street. The 22,613-square-foot new terminal offers first-class services and amenities for passengers and crews, an executive conference room, easy access from runways with a new parallel taxiway, 600,000 square feet of ramp space with exclusive business aircraft parking, and a 24,000-square-foot itinerant aircraft hangar.