Tourism

The number of passengers traveling through Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers increased in September, the first rise in the year-over-year number since April of 2022.

Local community leaders recently shared where things are now and what the future holds for Southwest Florida’s barrier islands.

The number of people traveling to Florida during the second quarter of 2023 decreased compared to a year earlier, according to estimates released Wednesday by the state’s tourism-marketing agency.

Travel to Florida from Canada has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, but visa issues continue to complicate the state’s efforts to draw overseas visitors, according to tourism officials.

Local tourism officials warn the proposed changes would harm efforts that last year helped lead to tourism numbers topping pre-pandemic levels. Rep. Mike Giallombardo, a Cape Coral Republican, is a sponsor of the proposal.

Visitors to Lee County are turning to local businesses and restaurants to support the area after Southwest Florida International Airport released numbers showing a change in tourism.

RSW is among the top 5 U.S. airports for passenger satisfaction, according to the Travel Lens website.

The Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau (VCB) developed a four-stage recovery campaign to promote tourism in Lee County by spreading excitement as the current focus. “The goal is to show that the destination is bouncing back,” Tamara Pigott, the director of VCB said. “While things may not be “normal” just yet, there is still an opportunity to have an enjoyable experience and support the community they’ve so enjoyed visiting in the past.”

The new estimates by Visit Florida included a revision of the overall numbers for 2020 that indicates the pandemic was worse on the leisure and hospitality industry than previously projected.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Thursday he is suing the federal government in a long-shot attempt to get the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to allow cruising to resume immediately.