SARASOTA COUNTY — Despite the economic downturn, the tourism industry in Sarasota County had a record year last year.

During Fiscal Year 2012-13, Sarasota County raked in $13.9 million in tourist development tax revenue, according to documents provided by the county. That’s a 14.5 percent increase over FY 2011-12, when $11.5 million was brought in. The amount of tax revenue topped the previous best year of 2008, which happened right before the recession began.