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Tourism director: visitor spending up, TDT reserves and capital projects advancing; public commenter urges reef safety planning
Summary
Okaloosa County’s tourism director reported July 22 that visitor spending exceeded $2.2 billion over three years, non‑summer visitation grew 19%, and tourism taxes and reserves support venues, public safety and capital projects; a public commenter urged county planning for offshore artificial‑reef safety.
Miss Adams, director of tourist development, told the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners on July 22 that tourism continues to be a major economic driver: over the past three years direct visitor spending exceeded $2.2 billion and non‑summer (November–March) visitation has grown 19%.
Adams reviewed the tourist‑development (bed‑tax) budget structure, noting the county collects tourism taxes and allocates 12.5% to municipalities, a portion to public safety (10%), and a 6¢ capital allocation for projects. Staff reported total tourism revenues and associated distributions approach $40 million in the current year and described a reorganization to support venues and sales teams.
On capital priorities funded by the 6¢ allocation, Adams listed projects including venue improvements at the convention and equestrian centers, a living shoreline and artificial reef projects. She said several venues have exceeded revenue projections and that tourism reserves include a public‑safety reserve funded after recent storms.
During public comment, Steve Perry, a retired naval officer and diver, urged county leaders to plan for safety at offshore artificial‑reef sites far from shore, saying those sites create new destinations and potential rescue challenges. Perry recommended the county consider operational and safety resources for offshore recreation and said such planning could avoid preventable deaths.
Adams acknowledged ongoing coordination with public‑safety staff on safety and venue planning; no final action on reef projects or capital allocations occurred at the July 22 workshop.
