Report: Florida Sets Tourism Record for Six-Month Period

Governor Rick Scott announced Florida set another record in tourism by welcoming the highest amount of visitors during any six months in the state’s history with 65.5 million visitors. This record amount of visitors represents a 5.9 percent increase over the same period in 2017, and includes 58 million domestic visitors, 5.2 million overseas visitors and 2.3 million Canadian visitors. Additionally, after thorough VISIT FLORIDA review of the 2017 visitation numbers, it was also determined that Florida welcomed a total of 118.5 million visitors in 2017, two million more than what was previously estimated.

Governor Scott said, “Florida’s tourism industry and our entire economy continue to flourish. After having record-breaking tourism in 2017, Florida started off the first half of 2018 by welcoming back-to-back record quarters of visitors. These record-breaking achievements allow our economy to create more jobs and adds to our success of having nearly 1.6 million private-sector jobs created in seven and a half years while our state’s unemployment rate is the lowest in over a decade.”

VISIT FLORIDA estimates that 28.3 million domestic visitors traveled to Florida in the second quarter of 2018, reflecting a 7.1 percent increase over the same period last year. Estimates also show that 2.6 million overseas visitors and 933,000 Canadians came to Florida in quarter two of 2018. Total enplanements at Florida’s 18 major airports in quarter two 2018 increased 6.1 percent over the same period the previous year, with a record 24.2 million enplaned passengers. The number of hotel rooms sold in Florida during quarter two of 2018 grew by 1.5 percent from quarter two 2017, and Florida’s average daily room rate (ADR) increased by 4.2 percent.

Ken Lawson, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA, said “Back-to-back record quarters in the first six months of this year show that the Florida tourism industry has continued its tremendous momentum. VISIT FLORIDA will continue to develop cutting edge marketing programs that highlight the diversity of our state so that we can attract more visitors, create more jobs, and make Florida the number one vacation destination in the world.”

To view additional Florida visitor data, 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.