The British are... here
The sunny beaches of Brevard County have a special appeal to British tourists. FRED MAYS PHOTOS
Brevard hosting big influx of beach-bound Brits
The Pig and Whistle pub in Cocoa Beach is an enticing option for visitors from the United Kingdom.
The development of the Melbourne airport as a hub for tourist flights from all over Great Britain is resulting in a mini-British invasion for the Space Coast. The typical British vacationer is coming to Florida for several weeks. Most head to the theme parks but they are also spending an estimated 3-4 days in Brevard County, according to surveys done by the county’s official tourist bureau, Visit Space Coast.
“They’re beginning to learn of the benefits we have to offer,” says Peter Cranis, executive director of Visit Space Coast. “They will stay longer in the future. And we’re getting a piece of that.”
The visitor’s bureau is only able to track tourists coming in on TUI package flights into the airport. In 2022, there were more than 122,000 passengers — 2023 is on pace to surpass that. British tourists spent approximately $3.5 million in Brevard County in 2022; that number is also projected to be higher this year. The big draws to the area are the beaches, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, The Brevard Zoo, rocket launches and Ron Jon’s Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach.
But the area also has its more familiar charms for the foreign visitors. The Pig & Whistle is a British style pub in Cocoa Beach where the Union Jack is on the pub’s signage, and British favorites like shepherd’s pie and fish and chips are on the menu. Sarah Miles, the manager, says business has picked up since the TUI flights began into Melbourne. “The British are probably looking for something closer to home,” she says.
Even the cruise business at Port Canaveral is seeing an influx of British tourists. TUI’s ship, the Marella, takes vacationers to destinations along the East Coast and the Caribbean.
According to Tom Williamson, who is president of the hotel association, the tourist numbers for Brevard will likely continue to grow as the word gets out about what the Space Coast has to offer. Local hotels recently hosted a group of British travel writers, which Williamson hopes will generate articles and publicity to draw more visitors to the area. He says the typical British tourist initially comes in as part of a tour package, like the ones TUI offers, then they return on their own as they become more familiar with the area. Mostly, that means, “They come for the beaches,” he says.
The Visitor Complex at the Kennedy Space Center is always sure to draw a flock of British tourists.
Fred Mays
Fred Mays is a freelance writer and photographer who resides in Satellite Beach. He is a retired television journalist, and active on media issues with the Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition. His blog is www.floridaunplugged.net.
