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We welcome the season of Thanksgiving
What a difference a year truly makes.
We have followed 2020, a most difficult year, by breaking records in 2021. We continue to be a destination in demand with travelers seeking sun, sand and personal space, and for that we are grateful.
As we enter the holiday season, we have so many things to be thankful for.
Bed tax gains: August 2021 bed tax collections came in at $2.8 million, a 45% increase over August 2020, bringing year-to-date collections up a whopping 39.9% year-over-year.
RSW update: Passenger traffic at Southwest Florida International Airport continues to fly high. During September, a record-breaking 551,041 passengers traveled through RSW, an increase of 115% compared to September 2020 and 19.5% more than September 2019. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is up 69.5%.
Welcome back, international visitors: On Nov. 8, the U.S. will reopen its borders to vaccinated travelers from more than 30 countries. The reopening of land borders with Canada and Mexico begins the same day. The return of inbound global visitors to our area provides a positive impact to Lee County's businesses and the economy as these guests stay longer and spend more.
Fort Myers Tip-Off: The 2021 Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off basketball tournament is back Thanksgiving week, Nov. 22-24. This year’s lineup will feature two, four-team fields for the first time. The eight teams will hit the court at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. The Beach Division includes Ohio State, Seton Hall, Florida and Cal, and the Palms Division has Southern Utah, Yale, Milwaukee and Bowling Green. #ownthefort
What To Do returns: The VCB’s weekly rundown of fun things to do in Lee County returns today, Nov. 1. We’re excited to bring back What To Do to help visitors and locals alike experience the best of our destination.
As we enter the season of Thanksgiving, the VCB wishes all of our industry partners and their families a happy and safe holiday.
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