Sunshine Matters

In case you missed it, a wonderful article by Tim Mullaney in today’s issue of The New York Times entitled “A Bet on Florida Pays Off” showcases the momentum of Florida’s tourism industry and the vital role it plays in the continued growth of the state’s economy.  To read the full article, click here.

Here are a few excerpts:

“In contrast to American business in general, which slashed spending after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, tourist operations all through Central Florida invested through the downturn, giving operators something new to sell to visitors when consumer spending rebounded.”

“In Florida, as tourism goes, so goes the state, in part because the industry supplies one in six private sector jobs. And as tourism rebounded — Orlando reported 59 million visitors in 2013, up 27 percent from 46.6 million in 2009; visitors statewide numbered 94.7 million — other sectors have indeed followed.”

“The tourism surge was not the whole story, but it ignited the economic kindling the recession left behind, fueling a recovery that has now spread to construction and other businesses.”