Jobs under threat as Visit Florida budget is slashed
Visit Florida is likely to be forced to cut jobs after politicians voted to keep the tourism body but to slash its funding by nearly 70%.
The House of Appropriations Committee decided it will receive just $25 million this year, compared to $76 million last year.
Earlier this month the House voted by a majority of 10-5 to withdraw funding from Visit Florida altogether, but an amended bill put forward by House Speaker Richard Corcoran had been passed to ensure its survival.
In addition to the funding cut, it will require the tourism body to be more accountable with staff travel and salaries, and it will have to make contracts public.
Visit Florida was rocked by a scandal last year when it was discovered that its former chief had secretly paid rapper Pitbull $1 million.
"We’re putting them on a leash – a short leash – and provided that they show measurable progress and success with the new accountability measures that we put in place with this bill, then there is certainly an opportunity down the road for them to ask for more," said bill sponsor Paul Renner.
The office of Governor Rick Scott, a staunch supporter of Visit Florida, said the funding cut was likely to cost jobs.
"More than a million Florida families rely on jobs in our tourism industry and are threatened with this massive cut," it said.
"If we cut the budget by 67%, our state will lose visitors and our families will lose jobs."
A Save Florida Tourism online campaign has been set up to fight the changes, asking supporters to share key facts about the benefits tourism brings to the state.
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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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