Tourism officials from around the state converged on the state capital Wednesday for Florida Tourism Day. The day-long series of events gives tourism directors from across the state the opportunity to meet together and to talk with state lawmakers about priorities for the industry in the current state legislative session.
Preliminary numbers from the state’s tourism bureau, Visit Florida, indicate tourism generated a record $71.8 billion in tourist spending in 2012; that’s an increase of 6.8% over 2011, which had also been a record year for tourism in the sunshine state.
Early signs indicate that growth trend will continue in 2013.
“We have had reports that the early part of the year has been the best year ever and I haven’t heard that from one hotelier, I’ve heard it from many,” said Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau Executive Director Tamara Pigott. “That’s exciting news to hear as we kick off this year. It means an awful lot to the local economy. In Lee County, over 52,000 people are employed as a direct result of the tourism industry. It means an awful lot to the local economy. And we are anticipating we will be growing visitation, revenue and more jobs in 2013.”
Tourism officials throughout Southwest Florida say they’re also experiencing continued growth so far this year.
“The visitor spending has just been tremendous,” said Visit Sarasota Managing Director Stephanie Grosskreutz. “We’re seeing it across the board from our attractions and museums and restaurants and shops in St. Armands Circle and the like that everyone’s excited with the banner spending that’s going on.”
Southwest Florida tourism directors note that visitors aren’t just spending more money, they’re also staying longer.
Pigott with the Lee County VCB and Collier County’s Tourism Development Council Executive Director Jack Wert took advantage of being in Tallahassee to meet with members of their respective legislative delegations to talk about the importance of tourism to the state and local economies.
“We know that every 85 visitors to Florida equals one job,” said Pigott. “When you can show numbers like that and show that there is a true economic benefit in making a larger investment in tourism marketing, it’s a pretty easy decision for the legislators.”
“The good news is there isn’t anything negative that we’ve seen in terms of bills being filed already that would negatively impact tourism,” said Wert. “Which frankly is a benefit to us because when we do go and talk to the legislators, our number one focus is on supporting Visit Florida so we really do have a cohesive message.”
Pigott and Wert attended an international trade show in Berlin last week meeting with tour operators who send visitors to Southwest Florida from all over Europe. “We see this summer and onward as a really good time for international travel,” said Wert.
