The outlook for the Pinellas County visitors industry for the January through April peak season is brighter than a year ago thanks to pent-up demand among vacationers, said Walter Klages, head of Tampa-based Research Data Services. ...more

December 10, 2009

Pinellas County's mainstay tourism industry appears to be inching toward leading Pinellas out of recession, the county's visitors industry consultant said Wednesday. ...more

October 29, 2009

If you're looking for good news about the economy - and who isn't - look to Pinellas County, where a tourism consultant on Wednesday predicted that the local visitors industry will begin to show signs of recovery by mid- to late September. ...more

May 14, 2009

If you're looking for good news about the economy - and who isn't - look to Pinellas County, where a tourism consultant this morning predicted the local visitors industry will begin to show signs of recovery by mid- to late September. ...more

May 13, 2009

With the recession raging, are people still visiting Tampa for a vacation? Answers could come today. ...more

March 19, 2009

Cuba is expected to rapidly improve its infrastructure and accommodations for tourists as soon as U.S. restrictions on travel there are lifted, Pinellas County tourism officials said Wednesday. ...more

March 5, 2009

Cuba is expected to rapidly improve its infrastructure and accommodations for tourists as soon as U.S. restrictions on travel there are lifted, Pinellas County tourism officials said this morning. ...more

March 4, 2009

The economic recession for Pinellas County's mainstay tourism industry should show signs of turning around in the next six to eight months, the county's tourism consultant said Wednesday. ...more

January 15, 2009

The economic recession for Pinellas County's mainstay tourism industry should show signs of turning around in the next six to eight months, the county's tourism consultant said today. "This is the one industry that is going to lead us out of this mess," said Walter Klages, an economist and head of Research Data Services Inc. of Tampa. "It won't be a robust turnaround, but you will see little things change." ...more

January 14, 2009

A group of Pinellas County business leaders today picked apart a study that indicates the Tampa Bay Rays were responsible for drawing 5 percent of the county's expected 5 million-plus overnight visitors in 2008. ...more

December 11, 2008