Flagler Celebrates Tourism Development Efforts

EVOLVE Digital

Marketability, profitability and sustainability were the watchwords at the recent Flagler County Annual Tourism Meeting held at the Palm Coast Community Center.

The event featured a review of the past year in tourism, recognition of the county’s tourism heroes and a message on sustainable tourism from Emmy award-winning producer Chad Crawford.

Crawford, a Seminole County resident and host of the travel show “How to Do Florida,” said he was motivated to explore the environmental issues facing the Sunshine State after the 2018 algae bloom event in Florida.

“It sent me on a journey to better understand our environmental issues,” he said. The result was the creation of a new documentary series, “Protect Our Paradise.”

“Seventy percent of people in Florida are not from Florida,” he said. “It feels a little bit like a rental.”

Crawford said the state’s growth now and in the future, “will not stop” and developers eager to begin new projects “have their foot on the gas and they’re not taking it off.” And that has implications for the state’s tourism industry.

“We need to acknowledge that tourism has been very good for Florida, but there’s been a lot of negative impacts,” he said. That means destinations like Flagler County must be mindful of those impacts.

“You’re in a really good place to manage the ebb and flow of tourism,” he said.

Amy Lukasik, executive director for tourism in Flagler County, said sustainable tourism is part of the county’s tourism mission.

“We want to do it in a smart way and protect our county,” she said and referenced the mission statement to “elevate Flagler County as a viable and sustainable place to live, work and visit.”

Lukasik reviewed the county’s tourism marketing campaign focusing on eco-tourism, the beaches, sports tourism and arts, culture and historical tourism. The campaign has produced tangible results, with nearly 1 million visitors choosing Flagler County in the past year, producing a total economic impact of more than $890 million according to a county tourism report. In addition, tourism was responsible for 9,710 direct jobs and more than 11,000 indirect jobs in 2024, accounting for nearly a quarter of all jobs in the county.

Lukasik said tourism spending saved residents $443 in taxes per household.

Lukasik also recognized several individuals and businesses for their contributions to tourism in 2024. The honorees include: