Until the past few decades, Marco Island fell under the radar of many for a long time, leaving it to be enjoyed by a few generations of residents and select savvy tourists who leaned toward an off-the-beaten-path vacation.
In the last 20 years, however, the Marco Island population – resident and tourist – has seen a boom. New development has ushered in what many are calling a new era for the historically laid-back island.
While Marco Island is still known for its tranquil vacations and undisturbed nature, the travelers of today will find the island quite different than it was a few decades ago.
Now, Marco Island vacation rentals, hotels, and resorts line its shores, allowing an increasing number of visitors enjoy the sun, sand, and many attractions first-hand, such as golf, our beaches, and wildlife tours.
With all this development, Marco Island may no longer be one of Florida’s best-kept secrets.
City Growth
The Naples-Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area saw the fastest annual job growth in years in October 2013.
About 8,800 new jobs were created in a single month, after an overall 2.1 percent decline in unemployment throughout the first three quarters of the year. Local employment numbers have continued to be strong since then.
Collier County is one of the fastest growing in the state. Between July 1st of 2015 and June 30, 2016, the Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island region added over 8,500 residents and grow 2.4 percent to a total population of over 365,000, putting it in the Top 20 for the fastest growing metro areas in the United States.
Sperling’s Best Places reports an expected job growth rate of nearly 40 percent over the next decade. Clearly, the upward trend is continuing. But, what does job growth mean for the tourism economy?
Booming Businesses, Busy Beaches
The overall economic and population growth is having a major effect on the region’s tourism. Naples was ranked sixth on TripAdvisor’s “Top Value Cities for an Epic Group Getaway” list.
According to a recent NBC report, local business owners have begun to see unprecedented sales and developers are continuing to build in anticipation of an influx of visitors on their seasonal vacations.
While it may be busier, these changes are great for the local economy. Data from Paradise Coast covers the recent evolution of tourism in Marco Island starting in 2010.
In January 2011, more than 146,000 people visited the Naples-Marco Island-Everglades region, bringing about $103 million.
In January 2017, 182,600 visitors came to the region, pumping roughly $172 million to the local economy. The rates of increased tourism are significant and noticeable. 1,829,500 visitors came to Marco Island in 2015 compared to 1,793,700 in 2016.
Despite Hurricane Irma’s impact, more than 1.5 million visitors came to the area from January to November 2017 (the latest data available), spending a total of about $1.85 billion.
Vacation Rentals on Marco Island
If you’re interested in exploring Marco Island for yourself to see why it has become one of the top vacation and relocation destinations in Florida, book one of our available vacation rental properties.
Our Marco Island vacation rentals range from waterfront condos to large single-family homes or private coastal cottages. Comfort is our priority, and we offer extensive amenities with each of our rentals that allow you to enjoy the natural beauty and attractions of Marco Island.
Some of our most popular vacation rentals retain Old Florida aesthetics, while still being equipped with new appliances, full kitchens, and modern furnishings, while other recently built units are more modern.
We offer stunning beachfront condos with views that take you back to 20th century Marco Island, where all you see is the sea and the sky, while you can still have access to the manmade comforts that surround you such as boutiques and several top-tier restaurants.
Yes, Marco Island is more popular than ever. But, despite the trend, it is still a relatively quiet slice of paradise, tucked in the serene marshlands, away from the saturated Florida beach towns.