By DONNA BALANCIA
NEW YORK – Tourism is an industry that drives the economy in Florida, California, Nevada and New York. But all the states in the U.S. have the capability to attract tourists and groups. I was hired by Gannett as the first tourism reporter at Florida Today. The tourism business is vital today, particularly as the United States rebounds from the devastating impact of COVID and lockdowns that ruined business. The “mom and pop” tourist attractions that survived are trying to overcome challenges to rebound.
Latest figures indicate that tourism is on the rebound in Florida as well as California, Nevada and New York as the states’ various attractions bring visitors from across the U.S. and from abroad. Salaries paid to hotel workers continues to rebound as hospitality workers come back from lockdowns. The American Hotel & Lodging Association has compiled a list of salaries paid by state to hospitality workers across the U.S. Go here to see the data.
Visit Florida estimates that in 2023, 11.5 million visitors came to Florida from Canadian and overseas markets. Overseas visitation to Florida was roughly 8.3 million in 2023, an increase of 18.3 percent from 2022 (and a decrease of 15.2 percent from pre-COVID year 2019), with overseas travelers making up 5.9 percent of total visitors.
Canadian visitation is estimated at 3.2 million, an increase of 19.8 percent from 2022 (and a decrease of 21.0 percent from 2019), with Canadians representing 2.3 percent of total visitors. While Canadian and overseas visitation was lower in 2023 than it had been in pre-pandemic 2019, it moved significantly closer to full recovery than it had been in 2022.
As always a focus continues to be on bringing visitors from Asia, Brazil and South America, but the key is to make tourism travel attractive to and affordable for individuals, families and groups.
Every state in American has the capability to draw tourists. The U.S. offers unparalleled diversity in climate, ranging from skiing and hiking the mountains to surfing and boating at the beaches and lakes to enjoy the thrill at the theme parks, and taking in the history and the arts.
News By Donna 