Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development Tourism topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tourism director unveils five-year strategic plan; commissioners praise growth and new grant programs
Summary
Citrus County tourism staff previewed a community-led five-year strategic plan focused on marketing, visitor experience and advocacy, citing record 2024 visitor spend and plans to expand partner grants and data collection on short-term rentals.
Citrus County’s tourism director presented a five-year strategic plan that the county’s tourist development council and partners developed with community input.
Director Alvis (Alvis Cole) told the commission the plan grew from stakeholder surveys, site visits and a community retreat. He highlighted the economic role of tourism in the county and said the department will focus on marketing and sales, improving the year-round visitor experience and expanded advocacy on behalf of the hospitality sector.
Key figures and initiatives - 2024 visitor spending: $526,000,000 (presented by tourism director). - 2024 visitor-driven tax revenue: $62,000,000. - Visitor-supported jobs cited: over 4,500 jobs. - Resident benefit estimate: roughly $198 per household in tax offset from visitor spending. - Program changes: more frequent partner grants (doubling some funds and offering twice-yearly opportunities), enhanced partners in tourism program, new analytics and content capacity, and exploration of a tourism improvement district (TID).
Speakers and reactions Commissioners and former tourism chairs praised the department’s outreach to smaller communities within the county, cited success with broadcast and print placements (including partnership placements in statewide campaigns), and encouraged work on hospitality workforce training and shoulder-season programming to spread visitation countywide.
The commission was told short-term rental collections improvements recently approved by the board are expected to increase the department’s budget and provide additional funds for marketing and grants.
Ending The director said outreach and community partnership would continue and the tourism council will bring forward the new grant program and additional items for BOCC consideration as the plan is implemented.
