'Everything is booked': PCB prepares for July 4th, potentially the busiest weekend of 2022

Nathan Cobb, The News Herald
·4 min read

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Local officials are gearing up for what's expected to be the busiest weekend of the year on the Beach.

With Independence Day less than a week away, Beach Councilman Paul Casto, who also is a member of the Beach Tourist Development Council, said short-term rental reservations prove it is shaping up to be a booming holiday weekend.

"I've talked with some people who are in the hotel business, and they're real optimistic," Casto said. "I think most all of them are full from what I'm hearing. ... All indicators show it's going to be a successful weekend."

By the way: PCB projected to experience booming tourism this summer

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With Independence Day just days away, Panama City Beach officials say they expect this weekend to be extremely crowded with tourists.
With Independence Day just days away, Panama City Beach officials say they expect this weekend to be extremely crowded with tourists.

Sam Holden, marketing director and sales associate for Sunspot Realty, said Tuesday morning that practically all of her company's vacation rental properties were booked for the holiday weekend.

The Panama City Beach company oversees about 30 properties in Bay County, a mix of single-family homes, townhomes and condo units.

"Most of our stuff has been booked for a while just because it's a popular week," Holden said. "To my knowledge, basically everything is booked. I'd say we're at like 98% (occupancy)."

Pier Park, Panama City Beach premier shopping center, is expected to be packed with thousands of people during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Pier Park, Panama City Beach premier shopping center, is expected to be packed with thousands of people during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Tourism officials have said they anticipate the numbers of travelers this year to be similar to 2021, which holds the record as the busiest year of tourism in Panama City Beach's history.

Holden said 2021 crowds were enormous because there was "more pent-up demand" to travel last year "than there has ever been or ever will be." The demand was sparked by restrictions in 2019 and 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The weekends surrounding Memorial Day and the Fourth of July historically are when the city experiences its largest uptick in tourists.

"Our Fourth of July is always maxed out," Holden said. "I don't think we've ever had a slow Fourth of July. We're excited. It's always a busy time of year."

Casto noted the two weekends, along with the peak tourist season in general, play a vital role in the city's economy, which is driven by the spending of visitors. Panama City Beach funds much of its general fund with a 1% business tax within the city's limits.

"Panama City Beach does not have an ad valorem tax, and the tourists who come here help pay the bills," Casto said. "We get 1% of all the money they spend here to help (fund) a lot of the city's services without an ad valorem tax."

He also said he expects a huge turnout of tourists this weekend despite forecasts of rainy weather.

Beach Police Chief J.R. Talamantez said if weather conditions are rough, there probably will be a dramatic spike in traffic as visitors look for activities to do other than go to the beach.

"When the weather is not good ... and there are less people on the sand, traffic is horrible," Talamantez said. "During the weekend, if the weather becomes questionable, you can expect a very congested Panama City Beach. Regardless if the weather is good or not, you can still expect delays."

WonderWorks Panama City Beach Sales Manager Paula Fredrick said she has high hopes for the weekend. "I feel like we are, right now, having a really great summer so far, (and) I think the Fourth of July is going to be an even bigger push," Fredrick said.
WonderWorks Panama City Beach Sales Manager Paula Fredrick said she has high hopes for the weekend. "I feel like we are, right now, having a really great summer so far, (and) I think the Fourth of July is going to be an even bigger push," Fredrick said.

One popular entertainment option is WonderWorks Panama City Beach, an indoor amusement park located at 9910 Front Beach Road.

WonderWorks Sales Manager Paula Fredrick said she, like Casto and Holden, has high hopes for the weekend. She also expects even larger crowds if rain forces tourists indoors.

"I feel like we are, right now, having a really great summer so far, (and) I think the Fourth of July is going to be an even bigger push," Fredrick said. "The holidays are the pinnacle of our summer season."

Talamantez noted his department reached out to surrounding law enforcement agencies for help controlling PCB's inevitable influx of people this weekend, but many of them also are preparing for July 4 celebrations in their cities, so mutual aid might be tough to come by.

Regardless, Talamantez is confident his department can handle whatever challenges might be thrown its way.

"A lot of other municipalities also have events going on, so they're also stretched thin," he said. "I don't know exactly how much mutual aid assistance we will have, however, the invitation is out there. ... With cooperation from the public and cooperation from local businesses, I don't think there's anything the city can't handle."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Beach expects busy July 4th weekend with booming tourism