PHOTO: Florida has 825 miles of beaches, including Caladesi Island State Park in Dunedin. (Photo courtesy of VISIT FLORIDA)
By all accounts, Florida is well on its way to surpassing its goal of welcoming 100 million visitors this year. During the first six months 2015, VISIT FLORIDA reported visitor numbers swelled to a record 54.1 million, representing a 5.5 percent increase over the same period in 2014.
Year over year, Florida visitor numbers have risen steadily. In 2002, the state welcomed 73.9 million visitors, and last year visitor numbers climbed to 98.8 million.
From April to June, Florida welcomed 25.8 million visitors, more than it has ever welcomed in any other quarter in the state's history.
The largest number of visitors in the first six months of 2015 - 45.7 million - were domestic travelers, a 6.7 percent increase over the number of domestic visitors the state welcome during the same period in 2014, according to VISIT FLORIDA's preliminary estimates. Florida welcomed approximately 5.5 million visitors came from overseas and 2.9 million from Canada, 1.7 percent and 1.1 percent more, respectively, than during the same time last year.
"With all indicators continuing to climb, Florida tourism has strong momentum," said Will Seccombe, VISIT FLORIDA's president and CEO.
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