Tourism

(The Center Square) — A new bill has been filed by a Florida lawmaker that would divert some of the state’s tourism taxes to subsidize the state’s film industry.

State Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, sponsored Senate Bill 872. It would authorize using proceeds from counties that impose a tourist development tax to fund incentives for film and television productions. Stewart had filed a similar bill in 2020, but the bill died in the Appropriations Committee.

(The Center Square) — Florida officials say that the Sunshine State has set another record for tourism.

According to a news release from Gov. Ron DeSantis' office, visitation to the Sunshine State has set a record between July and September of 2023 with an estimated total of 35.1 million visitors.

(The Center Square) — Florida tourism officials say the number of international visitors to the Sunshine State is rising.

Visit Florida, the state's official tourism marketing corporation, announced in a news release Wednesday that in the first and second quarters of 2023, Florida had the most significant international visitor numbers since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

By: American Hotel Association (AHLA)

Survey: 79% of hotels report staffing shortages

WASHINGTON (Feb. 27, 2023) – As nearly 80% of hotels experience staffing shortages, hoteliers are offering potential hires a host of incentives to fill vacancies, according to a new survey of hoteliers conducted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA).

CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. (Aug. 15, 2022) – Tripadvisor®, the world’s largest travel guidance platform, announced the winners of its coveted Travelers’ Choice® Best of the Best Things to Do Awards earlier this summer, with the Explorida Manatee Swim Tour in Crystal River, Florida, voted the No. 10 Top Bucket List Experience in the world.