Tourist Development Tax collection showed a 29.10% increase in South Walton for February 2022 compared with the previous year. Total collections for February 2022 were $1,566,326.96. 

The Tourist Development Tax, or bed tax, is a five percent tax collected on hotels, condos, and other short-term rentals south of Choctawhatchee Bay. It is the best way to gauge visitation and demand trends in South Walton. The revenue supports tourism marketing and beach operations efforts, including cleaning and maintaining beaches, lifeguards, destination improvements, and preservation initiatives. 

Tourist Development Tax collection on short-term rental accommodations north of the Choctawhatchee Bay totaled $19,366.84 for February 2022.

The Tourist Development Tax, or bed tax, is a two percent tax collected on hotels, condos, and other short-term rentals. It is the best way to gauge visitation and demand trends.

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• South Walton in the News
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• March Website Stats
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• Upcoming Industry Events
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• Merchandise Spotlight: Double Deck Umbrella

Building off the momentum from the 2019-2021 strategic planning process, the Walton County Tourism Department has contracted with DMO Proz to once again guide the organization's strategic planning efforts.

As the environment in which the tourism department operates continues to evolve, it needs to continually re-position itself and its programming as it continues to build the visitor economy in an increasingly competitive environment, while balancing the needs, interests, and quality of life concerns within the community.

As part of the strategic planning process, DMO Proz completed both resident and community stakeholder surveys. Those findings will be used as part of the ongoing planning process. 

Want to learn more? CLICK HERE to see the complete timeframe of the strategic planning process. 

The safety of Walton County remains at the forefront of our minds. We've created a COVID-19 Travel Updates page on our website to share information about safely traveling to Walton County. This page is updated as new information becomes available.