Walton County continues to thrive as a top-tier travel destination and tourism economy, according to the Walton County Tourism Department’s recently released 2022 Tourism Update. “We were blessed with another strong year in 2022, which is a testament to the hard work that our accommodations, restaurant, and business partners put in throughout the year,” says Matt Algarin, tourism director for the Walton County Tourism Department. “Walton County is an incredible destination and we’re proud that we can share it with our visitors, all while supporting our community through job creation and visitor spending.” The report underscores tourism as the number one economic driver in Walton County. More than 5.3 million visitors spent an average of $889 each day, amounting to a staggering $4.8 billion in direct spending alone. All of that added up to a $7.2 billion economic impact for the county in 2022. For Walton County residents, this visitor spending translated into an average of $2,109 in tax savings per household. It also supported more than 47,000 in tourism-related jobs. In fact, visitor spending accounted for 76 percent of all retail spending in Walton County. The tourism department is funded by what’s commonly referred to as a “bed tax.” In Walton County, a 5 percent bed tax is collected on all short-term rental stays of six months or less in accommodations south of Choctawhatchee Bay, as well as a 2 percent bed tax on short-term rentals north of the Bay. Walton County residents do not pay a bed tax...
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