Flagler County brought in a whopping 948,000 tourists over the span of 2024, according to data released by the Palm Coast and Flagler Beaches Tourism Development Office. The visitation numbers, along with other key tourism information, was revealed at the organization’s Flagler County Annual Tourism Meeting on Wednesday at the Palm Coast Community Center.
Tourism Development Director Amy Lukasik used the meeting to summarize the various fronts on which the county tourism office is working to bring in visitors from out of town, ideally stimulating the local economy and helping maintain the health of local business. Also speaking was Chad Crawford, an Emmy-winning producer and the host of the TV series ‘How to Do Florida’.
Tourism’s Economic Impact
“Tourism is vital to the economic success of Flagler County. Through the promotion of responsible tourism, we’re able to improve the quality of life for our residents,” Lukasik said. “Projects like the Regional Visitor Eco-Discovery Center will continue to improve that quality of life by enhancing access and raising awareness of the county’s rich natural landscapes through education and high-quality recreational opportunities.”
The estimated economic impact of tourism in Flagler County last year produced a staggering number: according to Lukasik, $890,907,800 was produced within Flagler County from tourism alone. For businesses in areas like Flagler Beach, which rely on a steady stream of visitors possibly experiencing a beach town for the first time, this stimulation is vital to keep them afloat.
Community Awards
Also covered at the annual meeting Wednesday were a series of awards for individuals, businesses, and initiatives which the Tourism Development Office felt contributed to the health of Flagler County tourism. The meeting’s Resiliency Award was given to High Tides at Snack Jacks, the restaurant on beachside SR-A1A which routinely endures erosion and storm surge during the year’s hurricane season. The Economic Impact Award was given to Continuing Education Company, a nonprofit medical education group.
The Best New Tourism Asset/Product was given to Palm Coast’s Southern Recreation Center, a surprising pick given its emphasis on yearly and monthly usage subscriptions for local residents. Still, the Center gives Palm Coast an opportunity to be a long-running tournament destination for racquet sports. The Best Newcomer Award went to Poppy’s True Market, a new local shop located along SR-100 in Bunnell. The Outstanding Cultural Impact Award was given to the Flagler County Cultural Council’s beloved Turtle Trail.
Four individuals were also honored as part of the award ceremony. The night’s Hospitality Hero was Jamie Bourdeau of the Beachfront Grille. Three locals were then honored as Community Champion: Flagler Surf Art and Stuff owner Carla Cline, HT Production Company owner Heather Thompson, and community activist/media extraordinaire Danielle Anderson.
