ICYMI: Florida Sets Tourism Record

TALLAHASSEE, FL — A roller coaster of negative news ranging from brushes with hurricanes to Zika virus scares didn’t seem to change tourists’ minds about visiting the Sunshine State last year. Florida broke its own tourism record in 2016 with 112.8 million people paying the state a visit, according to Gov. Rick Scott’s office.

The 2016 numbers top the state’s previous record high of 106.6 million visitors set in 2015. Tourism jobs also hit a record high in 2016 with 1.4 million reported, Scott’s office reported on Feb. 16.

Tourism remains a vital piece of Florida’s economy, Scott said in announcing the record-breaking year. Visitors are estimated to have spent about $109 billion while checking out the state’s many destinations in 2016.

“I have seen firsthand how tourism impacts our state,” Scott said in a statement. He also credited the embattled agency Visit Florida for helping bring tourists, their money and jobs to the state. That agency, which serves to promote tourism, has drawn fire from the Florida House.

House Speaker Richard Corcoran, a Republican from Central Pasco County, wants to do away with Visit Florida. The state's tourism promotion arm was cast into the spotlight in a not so good way after it was revealed it paid rapper Pitbull $1 million to promote Florida’s many beaches.

Scott, however, continues to defend the agency.

“Unfortunately, even with these incredible successes, politicians in the Florida House are trying to eliminate Visit Florida,” Scott’s statement said. “I don’t understand how anyone can look at Florida’s booming tourism industry, and the more than 1.4 million jobs it supports, and vote to kill it. The legislation the Florida House is pushing puts more than 1.4 million jobs at risk and we cannot let that happen.”

Florida’s 2016 record-setting tourism numbers came in a year that wasn't exactly banner in the positive news department, Scott noted.

"Florida was challenged like never before as we faced the Zika virus, two hurricanes and the terror attack at Pulse Nightclub," Scott said. "In the face of adversity, we continued in our mission to promote our great state and thanks to the hard work of Visit Florida, we continue to see record visitors to Florida.”

Whether Scott’s plea will fall on deaf ears in the House remains to be seen.

Corcoran’s position, however, seems to be clear. “As we’ve said, spending more taxpayer money on VISIT FL (or less) has not demonstrated a direct impact on tourism," Corcoran recently tweeted.

Politifact deemed the claim “half true.”

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