September 21, 2023
The Tourist

Photo: Eileen Escarda

Latin American visitors flock to Sawgrass Mills mall in Sunrise.

« Return to Floridian of the Year
Newsmakers of the Year - Statewide

The Tourist

Visitor spending kept things from getting worse in Florida.

As most of Florida’s economy emerges from recession, it will find a healthy tourism sector waiting for it, basking in two years of steady growth.

In 2011, the number of visitors to Florida climbed 6%. For the first three quarters of 2012, tourism grew another 2% to 67.6 million, putting the state on a record-setting pace.

More than 40% of Florida’s increase in tourism over the last few years has come from overseas travelers, including travelers arriving here on new international flights from Latin American countries such as Brazil and Colombia. “We’ve made a conscientious effort to expand international air service to the state,” says Will Seccombe, president and CEO of Visit Florida.

There’s also been an increase in flights from European countries, with a new direct flight from Miami to Prague in the Czech Republic and from Tampa to Switzerland. Miami also added a direct flight to Moscow. Visit Florida is now looking to countries like India, where it added a representative for the first time, to fuel growth.

Spending by international tourists, who tend to stay longer, was up 7.5% for the first eight months of 2012 from the year-earlier period.

Meanwhile, northwest Florida counties hit hard by the BP oil spill are breaking tourism records, in part because of marketing dollars from BP. State officials are hoping to get a further boost this year from the “Viva Florida” anniversary celebration of Juan Ponce de Leon’s discovery of the state 500 years ago. “It gives us a really unique opportunity to broaden the appeal of Florida,” Seccombe says.

Tags: Floridian of the Year, Around Florida, Travel & Tourism, Newsmakers of the Year, Statewide Newsmakers

Florida Business News

Florida News Releases

Florida Trend Video Pick

Gator with missing jaw finds home in Florida park
Gator with missing jaw finds home in Florida park

A Florida reptile park has taken in an alligator that lost its nose and upper jaw to a fight or boat propeller. Gatorland Orlando said over the weekend that the injured alligator came from a lake in nearby Sanford, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of Orlando. “She had basically no chance of surviving in the wild with such a severe injury,” the park said in a social media post.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

Ballot Box

Why do you believe Florida's teacher shortage is at an all time high?

  • New legislative restrictions
  • Parent/guardian involvement
  • Student disciplinary issues
  • Compensation
  • Curriculum

See Results

Florida Trend Media Company
490 1st Ave S
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727.821.5800

© Copyright 2023 Trend Magazines Inc. All rights reserved.