Florida continues to see an increase in the number of visitors to the Sunshine State.
“I’m pleased to say the big story for tourism in 2012 is that we are building on a record year with continued growth and increased visitor spending,” Chris Thompson, president and CEO of Visit Florida, said in a news release.
During the first quarter of 2012, 23.4 million visitors — including 19.7 million domestic travelers — visited the state. That’s a 2.4 percent increase compared to the same period a year earlier.
“On the heels of a record year for the Florida tourism industry in 2011, it’s encouraging to see the trend of more visitors and more jobs extending into 2012,” Gov. Rick Scott said in a news release.
Concurrently, the number of direct travel-related jobs statewide increased 1.9 percent or by 19,200 jobs (to just more than 1 million jobs) since a year earlier. That happens to be the largest employment total since first quarter of 2008.
“The more than one million Floridians who are employed in the tourism industry take great pride in serving our visitors, who help generate nearly a quarter of the state’s sales tax revenue,” Tony Lapi, chairman of the Visit Florida Board of Directors and President and CEO of ‘Tween Waters Inn Island Resort, said in a news release. “We know that every 85 visitors support one Florida job, so the continued increase in travelers to our great state equals a strengthened Florida economy and much-needed employment.”