CRUNCHING NUMBERS

HAS TOURISM RECOVERED?

A sampling of sales and revenues from 2002 and 2003.

Percent change in postcard sales at Davidson Drugs from 2002 to 2003: up 18 percent

Number of visitors to Selby Gardens in 2002:158,000; in 2003: 165,000

Fish and chips orders at Old Salty Dog on New Pass in 2002: 11,020; in 2003:10,808

Passengers on the Gator Gal boat in Myakka in 2002: 30,000; in 2003: 25,000

Spring training ticket sales at Ed Smith Stadium in 2002: 75,000; in 2003: 73,068 (one game was rained out)

Visitors to the Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau Tourist Welcome Center from January through April 2002: 31,069; from January through April 2003: 37,241

Number of visitor guides distributed at Bradenton Convention and Visitors Center from October 2001 to April 2002: 59,711; in 2003: 49,336

Number of visitors to the South Florida Museum in January to April 2002: 11,229; January to April 2003: 13,078

Admissions revenues at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in fiscal year 2002: $1,360,213; in fiscal year 2003: $2,660,523 (Note: Ca d Zan reopened April 2002)

Visitors to Mote Marine in 2002: 370,262; in 2003: 246,210

Pounds of stone crab claws sold at Moore's Stone Crab on Longboat Key from September 2001 through April 2002: 400,000; from September 2002 through April 2003: 600,000