Florida Q1 arrivals up by more than six percent
Saturday, 17 May, 2016
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The appetite for vacations in the Sunshine State shows no sign of dying down in 2016.
Nearly 30 million tourists came to Florida in the first three months of 2016, according to first-quarter preliminary data released by the state.
It estimates a 6.6% year over year rise to 29.8 million.
"I’m thrilled that Florida continues to break records in the amount of tourists visiting our state. Nearly 30 million visitors have enjoyed our beautiful beaches and attractions so far this year, and a record high of more than 1.2 million Floridians are employed in the tourism industry — which is great news," said Gov. Rick Scott in a statement.
"Last year, we exceeded our goal of a historic 105 million visitors. I look forward to smashing our record again this year by welcoming 115 million visitors to the Sunshine State."
Despite the rise, Visit Florida said there were fewer international visitors in Q1, with the strong dollar impacting the all-important Canadian and Brazilian markets.
Still, domestic tourism remains strong at 25.5 million visits, up from 23.9 million in the first quarter of 2015.
"Given the challenges our industry is facing — the strong dollar’s impact on Canada and issues in Brazil — this record quarter for Florida tourism is even more exciting. It’s further proof that tourism marketing works," said Will Seccombe, president and CEO of Visit Florida.
"Our strategy of showcasing both the familiar and off-the-beaten-path travel opportunities remind potential visitors that, while Florida is filled with destinations they know and can trust, there is always more to discover.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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