It might be hotter than Hades in the summer, the bugs are insane, and there is always the threat of hurricanes, but Florida is still Florida and one of the biggest tourist destinations in the country, if not the world.
A record
140 million visitors descended
upon the Sunshine State in 2023; 140.6 million to be exact.
And it could be even greater this year. More than 40 million people visited the state in the first quarter of this year, a record in Florida for any quarter, and it puts the state on track for 160 million people by the end of the year.
“Once
again, Florida leads the nation as an unrivaled destination for tourists,” said
Governor Ron DeSantis. “These record-breaking numbers show that our work has
made the free state of Florida even more attractive to visitors.”
While the majority of visitors are from the United States, with a whopping 129.1 million, Florida's allure extends far beyond its borders. The state also welcomed 8.3 million visitors from overseas, and another 3.2 million from Canada, making it a truly international destination.
“Florida
continues to welcome visitors with open arms,” said Dana Young, President and
CEO of VISIT
FLORIDA. “The record-breaking visitation seen in
2023 and continued through the first quarter of 2024 reaffirms Florida’s status
as a must-visit destination for travelers worldwide.”
Even
minimally, the numbers are up.
Domestic,
non-resident visitors to Florida traveled there by air almost 40 percent of the
time in the first quarter of 2024. Total enplanements at 19 Florida airports
increased by 9.4 percent in Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2023, reaching 30.2 million.
Orlando International was the busiest airport with 7.6 million enplanements,
followed by Miami with 7.5 million.
New accommodation
options have been helpful as well.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
