South Walton EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S UPDATE

VISITOR DEMOGRAPHICS As the Executive Director of the Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC), my ultimate goal is to preserve and enhance the South Walton upcoming events brand, and by doing so safeguard Walton County’s economy and quality of life. M AY OCTOBER ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival Baytowne Wharf Beer Festival Under the Visit South Walton brand name, we employ a multi-pronged marketing strategy to encourage Art Week Rosemary Uncorked 2017 TOURISM UPDATE year-round visitation, but our responsibilities extend Digital Graffiti South Walton Celebrity Golf Classic far beyond marketing. In order to protect and enhance the South Where South Walton Visitors Seaside Dance Festival 30A Half Marathon & 5K Walton experience for both visitors and residents we maintain more Harvest Wine & Food WALTON COUNTY TDC than 20 miles of our beaches as well as 52 public beach accesses COME FROM JUNE 30A Blue Crab Festival and 20 miles of multi-use path. The tourism tax we collect supports the community, funding programs like the South Walton Fire District Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic Bloody Mary Festival lifeguards and supporting dozens of popular events that help bring not just entertainment, but also economic prosperity to Walton County. JULY NOVEMBER Tourism is far and away Walton County’s primary economic driver, 7 Seaside 4th of July Parade Seeing Red Wine Festival Rags to Riches Regatta Flutterby Festival creating a $4.4 billion dollar economic impact last year. Visitors fund 7 100 percent of TDC activities, and pay the majority of the taxes that Sparkling Wine & Holiday Lights support Walton County’s government, schools and infrastructure. SEPTEMBER Mountain Film Festival Additionally, visitors also account for 73 percent of all retail spending Baytowne Wharf Art Walk 30A 10K in Walton County. Bud & Alleys Annual Hurricane Party Old Florida Holiday Market Tourism creates jobs in Walton County – 22,000 jobs, in fact – and Alys Beach 5K also makes it possible for many of our favorite businesses to prosper, The Sandestin Triathalon DECEMBER increasing the quality of life for all residents. Tourism funds are being Hilton Sandestin Beach Blowout used to purchase beachfront parcels for new public beach accesses and increase parking options in South Walton. Those amenities will 41% % Baytowne Countdown 33% 38 % enhance the quality of life for residents, and safeguard the visitor % 32 18 % % experience for generations to come. 8% 16 14 For more information visit visitsouthwalton.com/events The Walton County TDC has a great team in place, a great destination to promote, and a bright future. We are dedicated to protecting Walton K County’s economy, aesthetic and culture, and I look forward to another K

K successful year working with local partners toward that shared goal. - K - community SUPPORT $ $ > < $ $ JAY TUSA TURTLE NEST MONITORING Executive Director Walton County Tourist Development Council VOLUNTEER BEACH AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP LOCAL EVENTS & FESTIVALS 2017-2018 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SOUTH WALTON ARTIFICIAL REEF ASSOCIATION (SWARA) William “Bill” Chapman, Chairman, District 1 Commissioner STATE PARK PARKING PROGRAM Tony Anderson, Vice-Chair, District 5 Commissioner Cecilia Jones, District 2 Commissioner 5.3 PEOPLE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY WAS Melanie Nipper, District 3 Commissioner Sara Comander, District 4 Commissioner AVERAGE PARTY SIZE 6.1 NIGHTS VISITSOUTHWALTON.COM 331 South US Highway 25777 Beach, Florida 32459 Santa Rosa VisitSouthWalton.com 2017 VISITORS DIRECT SPENDING

3 New Regional Beach Accesses Since August 2016 Visit South Walton has purchased seven beachfront parcels for a total of 747 feet of beachfront to be used as three new regional access points, along with a 7.35-acre inland property that currently serves as additional parking in the Walton County jobs created by tourism Grayton Beach area. The total spend for these properties is $25.6 million, all paid for by tourism revenue.

VISITORS SPEND $889 EVERY DAY OF THEIR TRIP New Regional Beach Access Locations and Expected Opening Dates • Miramar Beach (Scenic Gulf Dr., between Alamo Street Refurbishing + Upgrading the Timpoochee Trail and S. Geronimo Street) Summer 2019 This multi-phased/multi-year project will replace the existing 8’ wide Timpoochee Trail with a new 10’ wide path. Work includes installing storm • Seagrove Beach (30A, between Somerset Bridge Rd. water systems, stabilized base, a new asphalt path, new trail signs, and and Sugar Ln.) Summer 2019 new trail amenities (including benches, garbage cans, rest stations). The section from WaterColor to Western Lake was completed in mid-2017. The Tourist Development Tax is paid • Dune Allen Beach (30A, between Hilltop Dr. Currently under design/permitting is the section from Western Lake to CR283. only by visitors staying in short-term and Woodward Dr.) Summer 2019 Construction on that section is expected to begin in September 2018. rentals, such as hotels, condos and beach houses. 1 New Bay Access Construction is now underway on the section between CR283 and Hwy 83, with • Bayside Ranchettes (Now open! 327 E. Mitchell Ave) completion set for mid-May. The section of the trail from CR395 to Eastern Lake will soon begin the design/permitting phase. While the State of Florida has strict rules governing how those New Parking Areas more than funds can be spent, many of the The 30A Parking project added a total of 116 parking spaces in the 30A Scenic activities and amenities they Corridor right of way, convenient to existing Regional Beach Accesses. 65% support – such as bike trails, Work included new curbs and gutters, storm water systems, concrete pavers, $1,213 public beach accesses, lifeguards, landscaping and irrigation. and special events – enhance the lives of residents as well as visitors. • Grayton Beach at 30A/CR283 (68 spaces) • Ft. Panic at Dune Allen (13 spaces) • Ed Walline Regional Beach Access at 30A/CR393 (17 spaces) Visitors Amount for • Blue Mountain Beach at 30A/Hwy 83 (12 spaces) $4.4 2017 • Eastern Lake at 30A/Eastern Lake Rd (6 spaces) VISITATION TRENDS 73% Garbage Collection of all retail spending in Walton County Daily collection of 500 bags at 320 stations yielded approximately 82,400 bags – 560 tons! – during 2017.

17,000 Code Enforcement Eleven Beach Code Enforcement Officers patrol the beach seven days/wk from 5:30 am to 11:30 pm, and in 2017 tracked 7,700 interactions, mostly focused on glass containers, tents on the beach, checking dog permits, vendor-related issues, and customary use laws. 17