Residents of the Emerald Coast know that the fall is the best time to hit the beach. October on the Gulf Coast has been a well-kept secret for residents here for as long as I can remember. Offering mild sunny days, cool nights and generally rain free, we have marveled why the tourists opted to leave early as we enjoyed miles of quiet beaches, restaurants with no waiting and a lack of weekend traffic.
Visit Pensacola reports that hotel bookings are up this fall in Pensacola Beach and the average room prices are up as well. The beach occupancy rate has increased over the past year and resulted in a three percent increase in fall room prices. We see the same trend with condo rentals and vacation home rentals on area beaches. Local rental companies report their properties have largely been booked this fall and are indeed busier this year than in previous years. This trend is not limited to Pensacola Beach; we see the same thing from Perdido Key to Destin.
Visit Pensacola sponsored an annual tourism study that reported visitors to our area are staying longer and spending more money while they are here. This study also noted that the draw of tourists that come to our area has expanded in the last couple of years to include some cities in the Midwest. Steve Hayes, president of Visit Pensacola, has been promoting our area to international tour companies interested in Florida vacations. Mr. Hayes reports that we are becoming a popular destination for the international market because of our beaches, history, and our Southern hospitality.
Local campgrounds are popular destinations as visitors arrive to enjoy the natural beauty in a more hospitable environment. Watersports continue to be a draw as the Gulf water temperature is still warm and inviting. The Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier has reported an already busy fall season that has shown no signs of slowing down. October has also become a popular month for destination weddings at local beaches as the chances for accommodating weather is good.
This increase in fall traffic has been felt off the beach as well. Festivals, sporting events, and cultural venues all report record numbers. The Destin Seafood Festival and the Pensacola Seafood Festival occurred on the same weekend, and both reported record attendance. As you might imagine, seasonal employees are benefitting from this extended fall season as well.
