St. Pete-Clearwater Tourism Hits Record Highs

0:00St. Pete Clearwater just hit record highs on tourist development tax collections for the first two months of this year. In January 2026, they pulled in $8,303,354, the biggest January ever, up a tiny 0.16% from last year. Then February crushed it with $10,802,441, the top February on record, and a solid 9-point. One 3% jump over 2025. These numbers dropped during a meeting of the Pinellas County Tourist Development Council earlier this week. The tourist tax, which folks pay on hotel stays and rentals, feels everything from beach upkeep to marketing that draws crowds a year round. Local leaders are buzzing because this signals tourism rebounding strong after tough times. It means more cash flowing into jobs, events, and infrastructure that keeps visitors coming back. Looking deeper, these records beat every prior year, showing steady growth even in off-peak

1:00months. Officials see it as proof, the areas beaches and vibes are pulling in bigger crowds. With spring tourism wrapping up, these early winds set the stage for an even hotter season ahead in St. Pete Clearwater. I'm Corey with the story, and you've been listening to Tampa Bay News today, AI-powered local news.