SARASOTA, FL – A local Fox News affiliate has noted that Sarasota, Florida, is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination, drawing thousands of visitors from around the country – and even the world – to enjoy its sun-drenched beaches, high-end restaurants, and fun local attractions.
Fox spoke to visitors of Sarasota recently to find out what the draw is when it comes to this unique and beautiful destination; Jeffrey Kirchner of Lancaster, Pennsylvania noted that he and his family have been coming to Sarasota for over 30 years, lured by the warm weather and the welcoming nature of the locals.
“We really love it here. It’s a beautiful, special place,” he said. “We bring our bikes, so we walk and bike as much as we can and really take advantage of the climate and friendliness of the people.”
When they come to Sarasota, Kirchner and his family typically stay at Casa Limonada Boutique Motel on Garfield Drive, located just a half a block away from the beach; now that the COVID-19 pandemic is in the rearview mirror, he’s noted a large uptick in the amount of visitors to the region this year, even before the official start of spring break season.
Upon talking to some of his fellow tourists, Kirchner said that many of them had frequented other areas of Florida in past years, but were drawn by the allure of Sarasota and, being quite taken with it, vowed to continue coming to visit for many years to come.
“We are finding a growing number saying ‘oh we stayed in Ft.Myers in past years, I talked to a couple on the beach this morning. They normally go to Sanibel and they’re coming up and checking it out. It’s sort of bittersweet from our perspective,” he said.
According to Virginia Haley, president of tourism promotion group Visit Sarasota, the city experienced a 7 percent increase in rental occupancy in January when compared to the same period of time one year prior. Part of this increase can be attributed to the fact that parts of Southwest Florida are still in the process of cleaning up after Hurricane Ian, which has given tourists an excuse to try something new.
“Really what we want is to keep these visitors coming to the West Coast of Florida,” Haley said. “We know that Ft. Myers Beach, Sanibel will build back better than ever. We welcome that time for when that happens and our regular competition. They’re our competitors, but they are great friends as well.”
Florida Gulf Residential specializes in the areas of Sarasota, Siesta Key, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Venice, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Anna Maria Island and other Gulf Coast communities. Feel free to give us a call at (941) 304-1975 so we can answer any questions you may have.
Christopher Boyle is an investigative journalist for SEARCHEN NETWORKS® and reports for independent news and media organizations in the United States. Christopher helps keep a keen-eye on what’s happening on the West Coast of Florida on behalf of FLORIDA GULF RESIDENTIAL – Your Real Estate Expert for Sarasota and Surrounding Areas.
