Tourism & Business
Where Visitors Create Opportunity
Bay County's appeal as a destination reaches far beyond the shoreline.
Visitors come for the Gulf of Mexico, beaches, waterways, outdoor recreation, sports, events, dining, shopping, attractions, and the distinctive communities found throughout the county. That activity supports businesses and jobs across a wide range of industries and creates opportunities that extend well beyond traditional tourism and hospitality.
For residents, tourism helps support amenities, events, recreation, and businesses that contribute to quality of life. For entrepreneurs and companies, it creates a customer base that extends beyond Bay County's year-round population.
In Bay County, tourism isn't only about where people visit. It's part of how business moves.
Tourism by the Numbers
An Economic Engine for Bay County.
Tourism is one of Bay County's most visible economic drivers, bringing millions of visitor days and nights into the community each year.
The Bay County Tourist Development Council reports approximately 20 million visitor days and nights annually in Panama City Beach alone. Tourist Development Tax revenue generated through overnight accommodations helps fund destination marketing, beach cleaning and maintenance, beach renourishment, public safety support, and tourism-related improvements.
~20 MILLION
Visitor Days & Nights Annually*
103
Sports Events Hosted in 2025*
$154.9M
2025 Sports Tourism Economic Impact*
38,000+
Group Room Nights Generated in 2025*
*Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau / Bay County Tourist Development Council, 2025. Tourism metrics vary by geographic area and reporting methodology.
More Than Beaches
A Visitor Economy With Broad Reach.
Tourism begins with the experience visitors come to Bay County to enjoy—but its economic reach extends much further.
Hotels and vacation rentals support accommodations and hospitality. Restaurants, retailers, attractions, charter operators, marinas, and entertainment businesses serve visitors throughout their stay. Events and sports generate demand for lodging, dining, transportation, services, and local vendors.
That activity also reaches industries that may not immediately appear tourism-related.
Tourism Partners
Promoting Bay County's Distinctive Destinations
Bay County's visitor economy is supported by destination organizations that promote different areas and experiences within the county. Together, their work helps attract visitors, support tourism-related businesses, and strengthen awareness of Bay County as a destination.
Visit Panama City Beach promotes Panama City Beach as a premier Gulf Coast destination, highlighting its beaches, outdoor recreation, accommodations, dining, attractions, sports, events, and other visitor experiences.
Destination Panama City promotes Panama City as a waterfront destination centered around St. Andrews Bay, arts and culture, historic neighborhoods, dining, events, outdoor recreation, and authentic local experiences.
Mexico Beach offers visitors a distinctive small-town Gulf Coast experience known for its beaches, fishing, boating, locally owned businesses, and relaxed coastal character.
These destination organizations are part of a much larger Bay County community. Explore all of Bay County's municipalities and unincorporated communities through our Communities guide.
Sports, Events & Group Travel
Visitors With a Reason to Stay.
Bay County's visitor economy increasingly extends beyond traditional leisure travel.
Sports tournaments, meetings, group travel, festivals, and signature events bring visitors to the area throughout the year, helping create demand outside traditional peak travel periods.
In 2025, Panama City Beach venues hosted 103 sports events involving 4,204 teams, while Publix Sports Park alone hosted 62 tournaments and more than 107,000 visitors. The CVB also reported more than 38,000 group room nights generated through direct or assisted sales efforts.
For local businesses, those visitors represent customers who eat, shop, travel, purchase services, attend events, and explore communities throughout Bay County.
Tourism That Supports the Community
Investing Beyond the Visitor Experience
Tourism-generated revenue also supports assets and services used throughout the community.
In Panama City Beach, Tourist Development Tax revenue helps fund beach cleaning and maintenance, beach renourishment, destination improvements and marketing. Tourism funding also supports lifeguard programs, equipment for first responders, and additional law-enforcement resources during periods of peak visitation.
Tourism-related investment also supports facilities such as Publix Sports Park, which serves the sports-tourism market while providing recreational infrastructure within the community.
That creates an important relationship:
A strong visitor economy can strengthen the place residents and businesses call home.
Opportunity Beyond Tourism
A Diverse Economy Built for Growth
Tourism is an important part of Bay County's economy, but it is not the entire story.
Bay County is also home to major military installations, advanced manufacturing, maritime industries, healthcare, education, construction, professional services, transportation and logistics, research and engineering, technology, and other industries.
Businesses benefit from assets that include Port Panama City, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, highway and rail connectivity, military installations, higher education, workforce partners, and available development opportunities.
The Bay County Economic Development Alliance focuses business-attraction efforts on industries including aviation, aerospace, defense and national security; health sciences; transportation and logistics; information technology; research and engineering; manufacturing; renewable energy and environment; and corporate headquarters.
Thinking About Doing Business in Bay County?
Turn Opportunity Into Your Next Move
Whether you're considering opening a business, expanding an existing operation, investing in the community, or relocating a company to Northwest Florida, Bay County offers resources and partners to help you explore what's possible.
The Bay County Chamber of Commerce connects businesses with relationships, information, visibility, advocacy, and opportunities throughout the community.
For companies considering relocation or expansion, the Bay Economic Development Alliance provides confidential project management, site-selection assistance, research, labor-market information, incentive assistance, workforce-development support, and connections with community leadership.
Discover More of Bay County
Tourism and business are part of a larger story.
Explore Bay County's communities, education, healthcare, military installations, transportation, recreation, culture, and other resources to learn more about the people, places, and opportunities that make Northwest Florida a place to live, work, grow, and belong.