County Tourism Revenue Soaring

    Tourism revenue is skyrocketing in Lake County. Officials with the county’s economic growth department this week reported that the county’s income from its Tourist Development Tax has reached past pre-pandemic levels as the county is reaping the benefit of a public that is itching to get out after being limited during the COVID 19 pandemic.
    “Tourist Development Tax (TDT) revenue in the tourism industry has rebounded to pre-COVID numbers due to pent-up demand,” said Tracy Garcia, Interim Executive Director of Economic Growth for Lake County. “We predict this trend to continue.”
    The county collects TDT from hotels, motels, campgrounds, and other overnight accommodations, and those facilities have been booming recently in the county. Additionally, the county last year added additional revenue by adding less traditional accommodations to its tax collection list.
    “The county started collecting TDT from online platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO in February/March of 2021,” Garcia said, which added even more revenue.
    Data supplied by Lake County indicates it has brought in just under $1.6 million in TDT during the 2022 fiscal year so far, almost double what was experienced in all of 2021, and well above the last year before COVID - 2019, when just over $1 million was collected.
    The county expects its mixture of outdoor activity offerings, natural outdoor experiences, and the many special events brought to the county via its marketing efforts will result in continued growth.
    “We predict this trend to continue upward as Lake County is an attractive place to visit and host events,” said Garcia.