ST. AUGUSTINE, FL — The St. Johns County Visitor & Convention Bureau has unveiled a new strategy to draw tourists to St. Augustine year-round, aiming to fill streets even during what used to be the "off-season." According to Susan Phillips, CEO of the Bureau, this influx of visitors, particularly "wealthier" international types straight from Jacksonville or Port Canaveral cruises, will fund a "really nice quality of life" for residents and tourists alike.

Now, for those of us who have lived here longer than the last pothole repair, "quality of life" in St. Augustine typically involves things like finding a parking spot within a two-mile radius of your destination, successfully navigating downtown without a tourist stopping dead in their tracks for a selfie in the middle of a crosswalk, or perhaps just enjoying a quiet evening without the distant clang of a horse-drawn carriage.

The Bureau’s plan sounds like a dream on paper: more money without more problems. Phillips mentioned a slight dip in tourist numbers this year, prompting the push for year-round and midweek visitors. The silver lining, they say, is attracting a "wealthier" class of traveler, hoping to "mitigate traffic and other impacts." Because, as we all know, rich tourists just magically float above traffic, right?

However, some local folks aren't exactly planning a celebratory parade down St. George Street. Aimee Nichols told Action News Jax, "Forget what made St. Augustine special, because it's not anymore. And that breaks my heart." Debbie Wiles echoed the sentiment, recalling a time "before we became this constant barrage of festivities every weekend." It seems some would prefer a little less "quality of life" if it means a little more actual life.

So, while the tourism bigwigs are dreaming of a never-ending flow of international dollars, a fair number of locals are just bracing for the next traffic snarl or the search for an elusive parking spot that becomes more mythological with every passing season. At publishing time, no plans for a city-wide hovercraft initiative had been announced to mitigate the projected "wealthier" traffic.