Businesses feeling the impact of fewer visitors in SWFL

Fewer people are passing through Southwest Florida International Airport. In March, there was a 23% drop in passenger traffic compared to March 2022.

And with tourism being down, that means businesses could feel some added pressure.

There are businesses on Fifth Avenue that are feeling the impact. WINK News spoke to a few who said that last year they had plenty more reservations and longer wait times. Longer waits means more work which means more business which means more money.

Fifth Ave. a street full of restaurants, bars, ice cream shops, a place for anyone to find something to satisfy their cravings.

Jose Miranda is a hostess at a restaurant called Vergina. He has worked there for almost five years and told WINK News he sees the difference from the 2022 tourism season to this year.

“It’s definitely it’s always been good. This year is the first time we experience it to slow down little sooner than expected we’re still picking up here and there,” Miranda said.

Miranda said it still has been a good year for them but, they are trying to find out more ways to bring people in.

“Actually lucky to be in a prime location here in the center of 5th avenue so we definitely do we attract people we got a nice patio good food we got events coming up we’re still trying to do things to keep people coming in,” Miranda said.

Down the street, at Bistro 821, the manager, Grace Ramirez, said her restaurant is having a different experience.

“Same in the earlier hours but honestly more during the later hours, and that’s new that’s new for us we did expect to see a slight impact due to the hurricane however actually we had the opposite we had great success and seeing a lot of people come from the fort Myers Bonita area to visit us so it’s been wonderful overall,” Ramirez said.

According to the Lee County Port Authority, tourism season is anywhere from November to March. During March, 1,166,442 passengers traveled through RSW, which was a 23% drop compared to the previous year.

Naples residents, Marilyn and Tony Cappone said getting a reservation on Fifth Ave this year, last year, or the year before is always a scramble.

“We have friends coming we have a lot of people that wanna visit we say the places you want we have to make reservations otherwise you can’t expect and just call up in two days and get a reservation at the time that you want,” Cappone said.

Businesses WINK News spoke with that felt the impact and said they are hopeful things will pick back up within the next few months with Mother’s and Father’s Day coming up.