1. Panama City Beach Spring Break
John Laurie, Ph.D.

2. Introduction

3. Case Study - Four Locations
Let’s Look at 4 Places:
Daytona Beach
Former Top SB Location in U.S.
Panama City Beach
Current Top SB Location in U.S.
South Padre Island
SB Location for Over 30 Years
Lake Havasu City
Top SB Location in the Western U.S.
Using a Case Study Methodology, Each of These Cities are Studied Over Time for Evidence of Changes in the Economy
Quantitative Evidence Gathered From National, State and Local Government Agencies Averaged Monthly From
Every attempt to acquire uniform data as far down as the zip code level was made, and this is most evident in the analyses of each case study area’s industry breakdown and job growth by sector
Data available at the city level was used for income levels
County level data was used for tax revenue
In some instances, monthly data was not available, but instead calculated on a quarterly basis
Lake Havasu City
Panama City Beach
South Padre Island
Daytona Beach

4. Being a Spring Break Mecca
Ft. Lauderdale
Daytona Beach
Late 70’s-1992
Panama City Beach
1993-Present

5. Tourism/Spring Break Lifecycle

6. Panama City Beach Part I Crimes (2001-2005)
Median income is considered by many statisticians to be a better indicator than the average household income as it is not dramatically affected by unusually high or low values
The data used for this measure is from the national, state and county levels
Median income was shown to be the highest in Panama City Beach and South Padre Island. Their median household income not only far exceeded their county and state averages, but were slightly above the U.S. national average as well
Their income levels are much higher than expected from locations that have reputations as tourism hot spots because of the educational attainment of their respective residents
Daytona Beach and Lake Havasu City residents had median household incomes that fell below that of their respective states. Daytona Beach residents failed to even match the county median household level. Not surprisingly, both of these locations had less educational attainment than their state averages

7. Panama City Beach Part II Crimes (2001-2005)

8. Panama City Beach Non-Vehicle Citations (2001-2005)

9. Spring Break is Not An Economic Panacea
Wealth Distribution Skewed
Income Primarily Benefits Bar Industry, not Community
Bigger the Tourism Development, Less Benefit to Local Population

10. Hotel Tax Revenue
Spring Break is not the best month for Panama City Beach Daytona Beach has a diversified tourism targeting family-oriented events during the same time as Spring Break
Tax Receipts
Average monthly sales tax receipts from 2001 to 2005 for each case study area, which indicates when taxable goods are purchased during each month
Months with the highest levels of tourist expenditures have the highest level of taxes. Months with the lowest number of tourist expenditures would reflect a comparatively low level of taxes
Month of March is very poor for all three counties
Only Volusia County, representing Daytona Beach, had the highest levels of sales tax and hotel tax collected during March. Not due to Spring Break. Daytona Beach has a greatly diversified tourism approach targets family oriented events, most of which fall between February and April, during the same time as Spring Break
Tax revenue in Bay, Mohave and Cameron counties was highest during the summer months and was the second highest in Volusia County. Overall, this demonstrates that Spring Break is not a tremendous revenue generator for the case study areas
Families that visit during the summer months

11. Bay County Average Monthly Hotel Tax Receipts (2001-2005)

12. Volusia County Average Monthly Hotel Tax Receipts (2001-2005)

13. Sales Tax Revenue
March is Not the Best Month for Panama City Beach Daytona Beach has a diversified tourism targeting family-oriented events during the same time as Spring Break
Tax Receipts
Average monthly sales tax receipts from 2001 to 2005 for each case study area, which indicates when taxable goods are purchased during each month
Months with the highest levels of tourist expenditures have the highest level of taxes. Months with the lowest number of tourist expenditures would reflect a comparatively low level of taxes
Month of March is very poor for all three counties
Only Volusia County, representing Daytona Beach, had the highest levels of sales tax and hotel tax collected during March. Not due to Spring Break. Daytona Beach has a greatly diversified tourism approach targets family oriented events, most of which fall between February and April, during the same time as Spring Break
Tax revenue in Bay, Mohave and Cameron counties was highest during the summer months and was the second highest in Volusia County. Overall, this demonstrates that Spring Break is not a tremendous revenue generator for the case study areas
Families that visit during the summer months

14. Bay County Average Monthly Sales Tax (2001-2005)

15. Volusia County Average Monthly Sales Tax Receipts (2001-2005)

16. Types of Tourists Average Florida Cruise Tourist 7 Days/$265 per Day
Average Escambia County Tourist
7 Days/ $155 per Day
Average Florida Tourist
5.75 Days/$135 per Day
PCB Spring Breakers
5.8 Days/$67 per Day

17. 1 Conclusions Spring Break = College Students Create Economic Impact
March vs. Summer Months
It’s Not Best to be the Best
Spring Break is a Component not a Plan 1