PANAMA CITY BEACH – Despite autumn and winter forecasts, some local officials are involved in fewer snowbirds visiting the Gulf Coast this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Some vacation rental operators in the domain have already noticed a significant reduction in snowbird schedules at the same time last year.
For Dan Rowe, president and CEO of Visit Panama City Beach, this poses a risk to the region, as snowbirds revive the local economy while simmering from high season.
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“Snowbirds are of very important importance because it’s a time of year when there’s not much called for the beach vacation of the classic family circle,” Rowe said. “What they spend on our market is helping Array companies . . . spring, when the cash registers start working again. “
As autumn continues in the winter months, beach mayor Mark Sheldon said officials are running to make PCB a year-round destination.
In an email Tuesday, Sheldon wrote that “there is rarely more out of season” when it comes to enjoying the beach.
“According to early forecasts and bookings, the fall season turns out to be one of the most productive the region has ever experienced,” he wrote. “The local economy is going well in many of the country’s other tourist destinations. “
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Thanks to this boost, Funquest Vacation Rentals will be able to withstand the winter despite a massive increase in snowbird cancellations, said Arthur Lugovskoi, asset manager.
Snowbirds, representing about 70% of its tenants, Lugovskoi said Tuesday that virtually none will make a stopover this year. His company oversees about 150 homes spread over a handful of PCB condos.
“In fact, we suffered defeats at the beginning of the year, but overall, the total summerArray . . . better than I expected,” he said. (Winter) will hurt a little, however, we will offset our budget thanks to a lovely summer. “
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Autumn in the air on Wednesday and Thursday, as Bay County recorded maximum temperatures in the 1970s and 1980s and lows in the upper 1950s. He is expected to regain new heights this weekend in the 1970s, said Tim Barry, meteorologist for the Tallahassee National Weather Service.
The region recorded its biggest drop in average temperature, a difference of 8 to nine degrees, in October. With that in mind, Barry said Bay County may still be waiting more days with temperatures above ninety-eight degrees before a much cooler climate prevailed for the region. rest of the year.
“It’s going to be great over the next few days, ” he said. “Even if we look at the maximum temperatures at 70oC above 80oF in Array . . . you’ll notice the difference because the air will be drier. “
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Tammy Call, director of the Panama City Beach Senior Center, said cooler weather suggests snowbirds will soon be on their way.
Although Call added that most of them would not begin arriving until the end of October, she was involved in the pandemic absolutely saving the birds from the Canadian snows of the surrfinisher. He said he was concerned that his insurance would not cover them if they eliminated COVID-19 in the United States.
Last year, its center welcomed about three hundred elderly visitors, about 24% were Canadian.
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“At the moment, many of our other people have said they might not be coming back this year,” Call said.
According to Rowe, his organization focused on advertising for older and seasonal travelers about a decade ago. To do this, place the PCB ahead as a “totally American, fun and affordable beach community”, which as a warmer tropical getaway. what South Florida already has a claim.
However, he predicted that only 25% to 50% of the general snowbird population would return this year, however, he also said that this is all companies were waiting for and preparing to fight amid coronavirus and a replacement in tourism.
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“When earnings are low, you get used to not spending cash to stay in dollars,” Rowe added. “It will be a tough time as we go through the winter due to Array uncertainty . . . (but) in uncertain times, Panama City Beach tends to do better than most. “