Florida tourism growth slows
Florida tourist arrivals continue to grow but the pace of growth is slowing.
The July to September quarter saw the lowest rise since 2010, up just 1.1% on the corresponding period in 2018.
Since then the average quarterly gain had been 6.2%.
Visit Florida reported 31.6 million people visited the Sunshine State in the third quarter.
Domestic and Canadian arrivals were slightly up, but international visitation continues to lag.
That is a worry for tourism leaders concerned over reduced funding for the state tourism marketing agency, and even the long term future of Visit Florida itself.
Marketing to international visitors is more important than ever, they say.
"The brand of Florida will carry the big destinations but it’s not going to get visitors to all the other parts of the state that still rely on visitors to pay for taxes to support the businesses that are in the industry," said Robert Skrob, executive director of the Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations.
Meanwhile Florida Keys has bounced back well two years after Hurricane Irma, but the latest travel advice from travel publisher Fodors has irked local tourism leaders.
The Keys has been put on Fodors’ ‘No Go’ list to avoid due to the ‘sickly coral reefs in need of healing.’
It contends the destination should be avoided to give them a chance to rehabilitate.
Marine tourism is only a part of the Keys’ tourism product and this could severely impact tourist numbers.
"By putting the Florida Keys on the no-go list, Fodor’s ultimately reduced a destination with a wealth of attractions to one single activity," Carol Dover, president and CEO of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, wrote in an op-ed last week.
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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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