News from August 2005
VISITOR TRENDS
The most recent official figures available show that Florida welcomed 1.294 million British visitors in 2002, probably the lowest point of the regular four-year cycle, down just 3.9% from 2001’s total of 1.516 million and the Millennium high of 1.651 million (Source: US Department of Commerce, ITA, Tourism Industries).
Even more interesting, however, is the detail provided by the research on activities, expenditure, destination within Florida and booking method. As the information has been tracked since 1998 it is possible to see definite trends emerging that should help the industry in planning and selling Florida holidays.
Expenditure within Florida has remained fairly constant, ranging from a high of $75 per visitor per day in 1998 down to a low of $62 per visitor per day in 2001, although this crept back up to $69 in 2002.
In 2002, 89.6% of British visitors travelled to Florida for leisure – up from 88% in 2000 – although the same four activities are the most popular: Dining in restaurants 95.7%; Shopping 94.4%; Amusement/Theme Parks 75.6% and; Watersports/Sunbathing 67.6%.
Party size has remained fairly constant, dropping from a high of 2.9 in 2000 down to 2.6 in 2002 – reflecting the trend for larger family holidays back in Millennium year. Duration of stay has also dropped very slightly to 13.6 days, but this still confirms the overwhelming holiday duration as being the traditional two weeks.
The number of people taking package holidays to Florida is also dropping slightly, down to 44.7% from the high of 53.5%. This proves that despite many claims to the contrary, the package holiday is certainly not dead yet! However, how those holidays are booked is certainly changing. Data reveals that bookings through agents has dropped from 70.8% in 1999 down to 57.2% last year. Tour operator bookings recorded a similar drop, whilst airline showed a growth from 7.1% up to 11.4%, reflecting the increasing availability of hotels bookings through airlines.
Understanding of the information sources visitors use to learn about Florida holidays is also important and the data shows a massive leap from just 7% using computers in 1999 to 25.6% last year. Travel agents certainly still have a role to play with 52.6% of visitors using one to source information, although this is down from 67.8% back in 1998.
Within Florida, data is showing how British visitors are exploring beyond their traditional haunts, with visitation to the Florida Keys, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Sarasota showing marked increases since 1999. This balances a decrease in Orlando visitation, which has dropped to 68.6% of all British visitors from a high of 79.5% in 2000. The Tampa and St Pete areas show a similar drop to 11.9% from 15.8%.
Posted on 28 August 2005
NOAA Extends Hurricane Forecast
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has added 5 major storms to its predictions for activity during this current hurricane season.
The NOAA have added 11-14 tropical storms to its forecast for this season. Of these 7 - 9 will become hurricanes and 3 - 5 will be major. This will take the total expected activity to 18 - 21 storms this year. Already a record setting 7 storms formed during June and July, and Tropical storm Harvey is out in the open Atlantic. Another ninth depression is forming!
Posted on 6 August 2005
Irene Heading For The States
Florida is watching closely as Tropical Storm Irene heads accross the Atlantic towards the eastern coast of the US, although predictions are at this time that she will miss Florida and head up the coast to Georgia.
Irene is strengthening as she travels and is expected to reach hurricane status by early next week when she could make landfall somewhere between Georgia and Virginia. Irene could also turn and reach Florida or turn the other way and completely miss the US altogether. Irene is the ninth named storm of the season, at a time when there would normally have been only two!
Posted on 12 August 2005
Another Insurance Company Reduces Policies
Nationwide Florida has become the seventh insurance company to cease writing new homeowner policies within the state of Florida despite winning approval to increase rates by an average of 21% statewide.
Nationwide is the fourth largest insurer in Florida with 300,000 policy holders, 24,000 of which are located in South Florida. Over the last few months since the end of the legislative session, insurance companies have been filing for increased rates and received approval for increases ranging from 16% - State Farm Florida, to 23.2% - Citizens Property Corp. Cincinnati Financial Corp with 5,900 policies in Sarasota and Manateee counties had an application for an increase of 36.7% refused. Allstate Floridian, Safeco Insurance and Clarendon Select Insurance Co have announced plans to cease writing new policies, Clarendon intends on withdrawing altogether from the state.
Posted on 16 August 2005
Hurricane Katrina (Cat. 5)
Sunday, August 27, 2005
(1:00 p.m. CDT - 1800 UTC)
Potentially catastrophic Hurricane Katrina menacing the northern gulf coast.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the north central gulf coast from Morgan City, Louisiana eastward to the Alabama-Florida border, including the city of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. A Hurricane Warning means that Hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A Tropical Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch are in effect from east of the Alabama-Florida border to Destin, Florida, and from west of Morgan City to Intercostal City, Louisiana. A Tropical Storm Warning means that Tropical Storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. A Hurricane Watch means that Hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 36 hours.
A Tropical Storm Warning is also in effect from Destin, Florida eastward to Indian Pass, Florida, and from Intercostal City, Louisiana westward to Cameron, Louisiana.
Posted on 28 August 2005
