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Visit Florida Extension Takes First Step
Senate Commerce and Tourism Chairman Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, started to move forward Tuesday with his proposal to extend the life of Florida’s tourism-marketing agency into the next decade.
The Commerce and Tourism Committee unanimously approved the proposal (SB 434), which would extend from Oct. 1, 2023, to Oct. 1, 2031, the “sunset” date for Visit Florida. The agency has been leading efforts to draw tourists back to the state during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine, said Visit Florida is needed to help offset negative media attention following crises.
“Way back when the city of St. Augustine got hit by (Hurricane) Matthew, and everybody thought that our city was closed, underwater, out of business, Visit Florida came in and not only advertised to the west part of the state to tell everybody we were open, but also to surrounding areas just outside the state and helped my city recover tremendously right after a hurricane, which was very needed,” Hutson said.
But Phillip Suderman, policy director for the conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity-Florida, said the role of government should be to focus on core functions needed to operate, which does not include tourism marketing.
“The goal for government is even more important now as our nation and our state look to move forward and recover from the economic effects of COVID-19,” Suderman said.
Hooper’s bill will need to be approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee before it could go to the full Senate during the legislative session that will start Jan. 11.
A House version has not been filed. Without an extension, Visit Florida, which has faced opposition in the past from House leaders, would cease operating on Oct. 1, 2023.
Visit Florida is seeking $50 million in next year’s state budget. The agency received $80 million from the Legislature for the current year, which included $30 million from federal stimulus programs.
