Standing at 65.8% occupancy, down 9.6%, Miami-Dade's tourism industry is hurting with room rates averaging $113.72, down 6.8% from last year, according to Smith Travel Research of Hendersonville, TN. Smith made the survey for the Greater Miami Conventions Bureau.

The survey shows occupancy is down in every month this year compared to the same period in 2001.

Miami Beach has been the worst-hit area, with occupancy of 63.2% down 10.9% from last year. Average daily room rates are $132.46, a 6.8% decline.

Downtown Miami follows with 61.7%, a declining 10.2% occupancy and $112.86 in room rates, down 9% .

The area around Miami International Airport has experienced a 9.6% occupancy decline to 71.4% and an $83.68 average daily room rate, down 9.4%. South Dade has been the least affected by slowing tourism at 68.6%, only down 5.2% in occupancy and up 2.2% in room rates to $121.76.

"We get a lot of business from Latin America and Europe, but they've been cutting back because of their slowing economy," Sheldon Greene, president of Sheldon Green & Associates, Inc., a 30-year-old, Miami-based hotel consulting group, tells Globest.com. "The third thing is that there is a concern over terrorism. It's out there and you can't ignore it."

International visitors make up 55% of total visitors to Miami-Dade, in comparison to just 25% for Broward and 22% for Palm Beach county.

Miami International Airport has an 13% drop in international passengers while Fort Lauderdale International Airport has dipped 21.5%, according to statistics from the individual airports.

Instant Insights /

No End in Sight for Sliding Hotel Occupancy and Rates, Study Shows

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