Pasco's New Tourism Brand Welcomes 1 Million Visitors

PASCO COUNTY, FL — Florida’s Sports Coast, Pasco County's tourism brand, welcomed more than one million visitors in 2019, an 8 percent increase from 2018.

Year-end performance data shows record-breaking visitation numbers, with tourism generating more than $650 million in economic impact to the area.

“Reaching the one million visitor milestone is a huge accomplishment for Pasco County,” Tourist Development Council Chairman and Commissioner Mike Moore said. “I want to congratulate our Experience Florida’s Sports Coast team and our partners for all their hard work making this possible. Pasco County as Florida’s Sports Coast is the place to be and I look forward to the number of visitors continuing to grow.”

Stats and Growth from October 2018 to September 2019:

• Visitor spending generated $652,290,200 in economic impact in Pasco County, a 6 percent increase from 2018.
• Visitors to Florida’s Sports Coast generated 1,217,021 room nights in paid accommodations, up 7 percent.
• This growth supported a total of 7,870 jobs (up 5 percent), equaling $168,157,000 (up 7 percent) in wages and salaries.
• Florida’s Sports Coast collected $3,040,375 in tourist development tax, a 15 percent increase over last year.
• Every dollar spent by Florida’s Sports Coast is associated with $447 in visitor spending.

“We’re thrilled with the tourism achievements made within the past year and hope to continue this momentum as our brand evolves,” said Adam Thomas, director of tourism for Experience Florida’s Sports Coast. “The growth in visitation shows that our collaborative tourism efforts are working, but rest assured that the best is yet to come. With expanded marketing strategies on the horizon, we look forward to welcoming even more visitors to Florida’s Sports Coast in 2020.”

Contributing to further growth, Florida’s Sports Coast anticipates the addition of three new hotels in 2020.

Embracing its storied past, New Port Richey’s historic Hacienda Hotel – originally built in 1926 – will be transformed into a 40-room boutique hotel following the completion of a renovation project this year.

The additional three hotels include a 124-room Residence Inn by Marriott to be built within the coming Wiregrass Sports Complex (the hotel will also be close to Tampa Premium Outlets), and two Woodspring Suites extended-stay hotels, close to the AdventHealth Center Ice sports facility.

Still a new brand among fellow Florida destinations, Experience Florida’s Sports Coast looks to celebrate its one-year anniversary on March 7.

The new brand pays homage to Pasco County's sports roots and previous tagline, "Let's Play," celebrating the county's sports venues, 35 area parks, nature trails, zip line courses, hot air balloon outings, skydiving, beach volleyball, golfing, swimming, diving, youth and adult team sports, biking trails, boating, ice skating, hockey, diving and snorkeling on nearby islands with four artificial reefs, year-round recreational fishing, paddle board and kayak opportunities.