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New Tax Figures Continue To Show Negative Impacts Of Pandemic On Central, South Coast Tourism

Some new tax figures show the continuing devastating impacts of COVID-19 on the tourism industry on the Central and South Coasts. 

The City of Santa Barbara is reporting that its transient occupancy tax collected in December was down 65% from the year before.  The tax is the one collected on hotel room stays, and is a good indicator if how busy motels, and hotels are in the community.

Santa Barbara officials say the lodging industry was hit by a combination of issues.  Public Health officials advised people to stay at home.  The surge in COVID-19 cases discouraged many people from holiday travel.  And, the state’s stay at home order meant that leisure travel was technically banned, although the order was in effect unenforceable.

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral.