![\"How](\"https:\/\/tourstreak.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/How-Astute-Marketers-are-Thriving-Despite-Challeng.jpg\")
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In the past, places that depended heavily on tourism for their economy only needed some advertising and good weather to attract visitors. Market research was simple, like the basic approach used by Mayor Vaughn in the movie Jaws. If the killer shark was dead, tourists would come; if it was alive, they wouldn’t. <\/p>\n
These days, things are different. Even small tourist boards now have access to top-notch market research tools and use a professional approach to promote their areas. Take, for instance, a forward-thinking organization covering the Bradenton area in West Florida. This resort, situated just south of Tampa Bay with a breathtaking view of the Gulf of Mexico, includes two island resorts, Anna Maria Island being one of them, both connected to the mainland by bridges. <\/p>\n
The organization highlighted the critical role of the Internet and social media in attracting visitors to these islands. In 2012 alone, 57.2% of reservations were made online, and a whopping 89.1% of visitors researched the islands on the Internet before deciding to visit. They even identified the factors that initially attracted these visitors.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the data provided insight into the average budget of each visitor, down to the nearest cent. With 97% of visitors satisfied with their experience in Bradenton and Anna Maria, it’s no shock that two-thirds of them had visited before and likely will again.<\/p>\n
For the broader Bradenton area, tourism actually grew by 11.6% in May compared to the same time last year, despite an economic downturn. From January to May 2012, 251,400 tourists visited, up from 228,000 in the same period of 2011. This increase is likely not a coincidence. Businesses and locals who invest in extensive market research and data collection are probably just as skilled at welcoming their guests.<\/p>\n
If you want to learn more about why Bradenton and West Florida are so charming, explore further details.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the past, places that depended heavily on tourism for their economy only needed some advertising and good weather to attract visitors. Market research was<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":248,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-accommodation-experiences"],"yoast_head":"\n