Sunshine Matters

So far, this is shaping up to be another great year for the the five Official Florida Welcome Centers that are managed and operated by VISIT FLORIDA.  More than 1.3 million visitors have already come through the Florida Welcome Centers from January to June, representing a 2.8 percent increase from the same period last year.

As an invaluable resource for visitors to the Sunshine State, the knowledgeable and helpful staff at Florida’s Welcome Centers provide a wealth of information to millions of  people each year.  In addition to offering detailed travel planning advice, the centers also provide maps, brochures and even a free cup of Florida citrus juice!

In June, the Welcome Centers celebrated “Florida Fishing Month” by setting up fishing displays in the lobby of each of the four Interstate facilities located near I-10, I-75, I-95 and US-231.  The interactive displays were a great way for visitors to discover for themselves why Florida is known as the “Fishing Capital of the World” and to learn more about all the great fishing and boating opportunities available in the Sunshine State.

For July, the Welcome Centers are recognizing “Florida State Parks Month.”  Staff are encouraging travelers to visit Florida’s state parks, which attract more than 20 million visitors every year, making our parks and trails system one of the largest in the nation.

Universal Orlando is also being featured this summer as part of the “Own a Welcome Center” program, which allows VISIT FLORIDA’s Industry Partners to create  highly visual themes that take over the interior of the Welcome Center facilities.  As a way to celebrate and promote its recent expansion, Universal’s displays are highlighting characters from Despicable Me 2, as well as new and improved attractions such as Transformers: The Ride 3-D and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

All the VISIT FLORIDA Partners participating in these monthly programs are guaranteed added exposure to the thousands of visitors who stop in to the Welcome Centers each day.  For more information on how to get involved with the Official Florida Welcome Center programs and gain more exposure for your local tourism businesses, contact Annette Larson, Visitor Services Coordinator, at alarson@VISITFLORIDA.org.