The beaches that surround the Tampa Bay area are very accustomed to high-volume tourism year round, especially around the spring and summer seasons.
Residents and small businesses are welcoming the large crowds, but not without slight hesitation. With a majority of people working remotely during this time, the idea of vacationing to the beaches is one that has become increasingly popular.
The Kooky Coconut on Indian Rocks Beach had a difficult time last spring, as the business relies on tourism to stay afloat.
“We mustered through the whole pandemic, a lot of restaurants opened and closed because they had problems with staff, but we’ve been having a very busy season,” said owner Joanne Inguaggiato.
The City of Clearwater has been encouraging travel for a few months now, but urges people to remain safe and socially distant during their time visiting.
For more information, please visit the interactive spring break safety guide at https://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/tips-for-visiting-responsibly-st-peteclearwater
This story was edited by Chrisovaladou Pantelis.
