Sunshine Matters

Happy New Year!  The Florida tourism industry kicks off the new fiscal year with a tremendous amount of momentum.  Record visitors, record spending and record hospitality industry jobs.  I would like to thank Governor Scott and the entire Florida Legislature for their recognition of the economic impact Florida’s tourism industry brings to the state and their continuing support of public funding for VISIT FLORIDA’s marketing efforts. Continue reading »

This evening, the Florida Legislature passed the state budget which included $74 million in funding for VISIT FLORIDA in FY 2015-2016.  I would like to thank Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature for their visionary leadership and for their extraordinary support of VISIT FLORIDA and the state’s tourism industry. Continue reading »

Last night, the Florida Legislature passed the state budget which included a $10.5 million increase in VISIT FLORIDA funding for a record $74 million in FY 2014-15.  This allocation includes $5 million for medical tourism marketing and $1.3 million to promote the Sunshine State to veterans and active duty military.  I would like to thank Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature for their visionary leadership and for their extraordinary support of VISIT FLORIDA and the state’s tourism industry. Continue reading »

We all know tourism is the state’s No. 1 industry and that every 85 visitors supports one Florida job.  With the release of the latest employment data, here are some new stats you may not know:

• Tourism-related employment grew year-over-year for the 48th straight month in March 2014, marking the fourth straight year of growth
• Tourism-related employment for the month of March reached 1,152,800, an increase of 3.7 percent compared to March of last year
• Tourism-related employment accounted for 18 percent of total non-agricultural employment in Florida during March 2014
• Tourism related employment for calendar year 2013 averaged 1,096,700, an increase of 3.7 percent from 2012
• Tourism related employment accounted for 14.5 percent of total non-agricultural employment in Florida during 2013
• 1 in 5 new jobs in Florida are in tourism Continue reading »

Today, the Florida Legislature passed the state budget which included a $9.5 million increase in VISIT FLORIDA funding for a record $63.5 million in FY 2013-14.

With this substantial increase in VISIT FLORIDA funding, Florida tourism is extremely well positioned to build on two consecutive years of record visitation and job creation.  I would like to thank Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature for their visionary leadership and for their extraordinary support of VISIT FLORIDA and the state’s tourism industry. Continue reading »