Gov. Scott: Florida Tourism on Pace for Another Record Year
Tourism-Related Employment Has Lead the State in Growth for 52 Straight Months
Mumbai, 21st August, 2014: Governor Rick Scott announced that according to VISIT
FLORIDA's preliminary estimates* 24.0 million visitors came to Florida
in the second quarter of 2014 (April-June), an increase of 3.0 percent
over the same period in 2013. This represents the largest second
quarter for visitation Florida has ever experienced, exceeding the
previous high of 23.3 million in Q2 2013. Visitor spending is up 7.4
percent in January through May 2014, at $35.7 billion, which is more
than the same time period in 2013.
Governor
Scott said, “A thriving tourism industry is vital to growing jobs, and
today’s report that Florida has experienced another record quarter for
visitation is great news for Florida families. This year we invested $74
million into VISIT FLORIDA, and set a goal to have 100 million visitors
visit the Sunshine State, which we are well on our way to reaching.
Together we are creating
an opportunity economy, and continuing to grow more jobs for Floridians
with more than 1.1 million individuals employed in the growing tourism
industry.”
The
average number of direct travel-related jobs in Q2 2014 was also a
record high, with 1,151,400 Floridians employed in the tourism industry –
an increase of 3.9 percent or 43,600 jobs from the same period in 2013.
VISIT
FLORIDA estimates that 2.8 million overseas visitors and 1.0 million
Canadians came to Florida in Q2 2014, both of which are record highs and
represent 6.2 percent and 1.6 percent increases over Q2 2013
respectively. Estimates reflect a 2.6 percent increase in domestic
visitors to Florida in Q2 2014 and show that Floridians took just over
3.7 million in-state pleasure trips during the second quarter.
“Experiencing
the largest second quarter for tourism in our state’s history,
including a record number of tourism-related jobs, proves that this
industry continues to be a vital force in Florida,” said Andrew Hertz,
Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors. “These records also
emphasize the power of tourism as a way to sustain Florida’s economic
growth.”
Tourism
and recreation taxable sales for Florida grew year-over-year for
January-May 2014 (last reported month), representing a 7.4 percent
increase over the same period in 2013. Bed Tax also increased
year-over-year for January-April 2014 (last reported month),
representing a 10.1 percent jump over the same period last year. Other
indicators were up for Q2 2014 as well, with the average daily room rate
(ADR) rising 7.0 percent, the occupancy rate for Florida hotels
increasing 4.8 percent and the demand in rooms sold growing 5.5 percent
compared to quarter two 2013.
“Florida
tourism is maintaining strong momentum with all indicators up across
the board for the quarter,” said Will Seccombe, President and CEO of
VISIT FLORIDA. “With occupancy, rooms sold, average daily room rate and
tourism and recreation taxable sales all continuing to climb, we are
well on our way to making Florida the No. 1 travel destination in the
world.”
To view additional Florida visitor data, please go to the Research page on VISIT FLORIDA’s media website.
*Preliminary
estimates are issued 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter.
Final estimates are released when final data are received for all
estimates in the report.
Warm Regards,
Anagha Nabar
Manager Corporate Communications
SV Road, Santacruz West
Mumbai - 400 054
India
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