by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 4:30 PM ET, Wed August 16, 2017
Beach-lined coasts, inviting weather and amusement parks. There's definitely something about Florida.
According to an Associated Press report, Gov. Rick Scott announced an estimated 60.7 million tourists visited the state during the first six months of the year, up 4.1 percent over the same period in 2016.
That's good news for a state that recently dealt with the tragedy of the Pulse nightclub attack, a spreading Zika virus and hurricane.
Though majority of the travelers visiting Florida are coming from the United States, there has been a slight decline in visitors from overseas countries and Canada.
Still, Florida appears to be holding its own.
In 2016, more than 110 million visitors visited the state, representing the sixth-consecutive record year for the Sunshine State, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
[READMORE]READ MORE: Florida Tourism Sets New Record for 2016[/READMORE]
Florida's continually increasing numbers sets it apart from all other U.S. destinations.
Roger Dow, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Travel Association, told the Orlando Sentinal that part of the state's success can be tied to the ease of getting there and the continued expansion of air service into Florida's major airports.
Whatever the cause may be, the state's tourism marketing agency, Visit Florida, will soon be getting more money to promote the Sunshine State.
Earlier this year, Visit Florida was facing a substantial budget reduction stemming from GOP threats to cut the agency's budget by two-thirds. Legislators later reached a deal with Scott to keep the budget intact.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
