TALLAHASSEE – Visitors to Florida final yr fell shorter of 2022’s file numbers, as a submit-pandemic rebound in intercontinental travelers could not get over a obvious drop-off in domestic tourism late in the calendar year.
The Check out Florida tourism advertising company reported that Florida had an approximated 135.02 million tourists in 2023, down from 137.4 million in 2022.
Go to Florida, nevertheless, pointed to will increase from 2019, the past yr just before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted world journey, and enhanced intercontinental vacationer figures. The condition drew about 131.1 million vacationers in 2019.
“Even as we faced the challenges of growing journey fees and popular inflation, Florida’s tourism sector not only persevered but flourished (in 2023),” Visit Florida President and CEO Dana Young mentioned in a well prepared statement. “From file air vacation figures to the major return of global readers, Florida continues to shine.”
The agency claimed 2.34 million overseas visitors in the fourth quarter of 2023 marked a 15.9 p.c raise from the remaining quarter of 2022. Also, 1.07 million Canadians in the fourth quarter of 2023 was a 22 p.c enhancement from the very same period in 2022.
But the total fourth-quarter amount in 2023 of 29.8 million travelers was down from 32.9 million in the course of the identical time period in 2022. U.S. travelers dropped 12.1 %.
Florida totaled 122.89 million U.S. tourists in 2023, down from almost 127.8 million in 2022. The domestic tourist number was about 117.2 million in 2019.
For much of the past yr, business officers have pointed to an enhance in level of competition from other states and international locations that ended up closed more time than Florida during the pandemic.
As pandemic constraints lifted, Take a look at Florida emphasized attracting international site visitors, who officials say stay extended and invest much more money than domestic travelers.
Pay a visit to Florida reported 8.31 million overseas vacationers in 2023, up from 7 million in 2022. Canadians accounted for 3.822 million website visitors in 2023, up from about 2.63 million in 2022.
The agency indicated Florida has viewed an increase in individuals traveling to the state, accounting for 37.3 % of the domestic visits, “the premier share of air readers considering that 2016.”
As state lawmakers start budget negotiations for the upcoming 2024-2025 fiscal 12 months, the Senate has proposed providing $80 million for Take a look at Florida, the same total as in the present 12 months. The Home has countered with a $30 million proposal. Gov. Ron DeSantis recommended $105 million.
