FORT MYERS, FLA — 10 million. That's how many people typically travel through RSW airport each year.
But Friday, I was lucky if I saw 10 at one time in some places.
Lee county board of port commissioners chair, Brian Hamman, says COVID-19's impact on travel, has RSW businesses taking a big hit to their bottom lines.
"We know that they're struggling, the businesses, the rental car companies, the restaurants and all of those companies that do business in the airport they count on having a certain amount of passengers to be able to make their money," he said.
The county port authority recently gave those tenants a chance to defer rent payments for a few months, but this month they've upped the generosity.
"We wanted to look for a way to help them out in September," he said
They're helping out by not collecting rent, a gesture that will cost the port authority about $3 million.
We don't want to lose tenants at the airport it costs a lot of money to try and market and bring in and then build out new spaces for new tenants," Hamman said.
The county port authority is hoping this break will help boost those businesses, but above all else they're looking forward to attracting more visitors and soon.
"We'll take our lead from the state, once we see the state is kind of giving the all clear to start marketing to bring those tourists here, we actually have funds set aside through our visitor and convention bureau to try and draw those visitors back because we know not only the airport, but our entire local economy depends on tourism," he said.
