CLEARWATER - Pinellas County's mainstay tourism industry appears to be inching toward leading Pinellas out of recession, the county's visitors industry consultant said Wednesday.
Preliminary research shows that September visitor numbers flattened. That reinforces the prediction consultant Walter Klages made this year based on his economic modeling and has bolstered expectations of occupancy growth this winter.

"All indicators appear to be positive for the January through April season," said Klages, who runs Tampa-based Data Research Services Inc.
Klages expects occupancy increases during the key winter period, from January through April, to be 1.3 percent to 1.5 percent.

Because hoteliers have lowered rates, slight gains in visitor numbers are not likely to help the bottom line as much as when demand is high.

For the year, Pinellas had drawn 3.8 million overnight visitors through August, a decline of 4.9 percent from year-ago figures. Direct expenditures through August declined 5.5 percent to $2.4 billion.

Still, making concessions to consumers to induce them is important to maintain a market presence, Klages said.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.