Europe’s stagnant economy, a weakening euro and a stronger U.S. dollar may deter some Europeans from taking summer vacations in Southwest Florida. The region has seen a steady growth in travelers coming from countries like Germany and the United Kingdom in recent years, especially during the summer and fall, traditionally slow time of the year for Sarasota and Manatee counties.

“Any major economic upheaval is always a concern to us,” said Virgina Haley, president of Visit Sarasota, the county’s tourism agency. “We’ve been monitoring what’s happening overseas for some time now, but haven’t seen any trip cancellations yet.

“Actually, our summer bookings are very strong,” Haley said.

The tourism chief cites Sarasota as an affordable destination, even in tough times, compared with cities like London or New York, which have a larger draw for international tourists.

European traffic was up 11.5 percent in October compared with the same month in 2013 for Sarasota County, making it the biggest month for European travel last year, Haley said. In November, European travel increased by 5.8 percent compared with the same month in 2013.

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