Unstoppable Florida: Tourism Reaches Unprecedented Highs!
Florida is anticipating record-setting tourism figures this year, nearing pre-pandemic levels.
Visit Florida estimated 35.066 million travelers in the third quarter of 2023, up 1.4% from 2022 and 7.9% higher than 2019.
The second-quarter dip is attributed to increased competition from states and countries that closed longer due to the pandemic.
The state saw 105.2 million visitors in the first nine months of 2023, slightly up from 2022.
International travel rebounded after the lifting of COVID-19 vaccination requirements for air travelers.
Overseas visitors increased to nearly 2.23 million in the third quarter of 2023, up from 1.93 million in 2022 but below 2019 levels.
Canadian tourists also increased, with 666,000 in the third quarter of 2023 compared to 561,000 in 2022.
Visit Florida attributes increased competition to elevated marketing strategies targeting off-peak seasons and non-traditional destinations.
The state's budget for Visit Florida for this fiscal year includes a $30 million increase to $80 million.
Dana Young, Visit Florida's President, sees the third-quarter figures as a "new normal" with heightened tourism market share.