Florida visitor arrivals plunged more than 60% in the second quarter as the Sunshine State was battered by soaring rates of Covid-19.
Visit Florida cited a fall of nearly 20 million year-over-year for the April to June period.
International visitation was down 90%.
First quarter arrivals saw a 12.3% decline.
The tourism marketing agency cited the public perception of Florida as a rampant Covid-19 hotspot as a factor in the huge decline.
The lack of international travelers due to border closures was another big factor as well as high levels of unemployment impacting out of state visitors’ spending power.
Last year it welcomed 32.4 million visitors during the second quarter.
Visit Florida has set aside a budget of $13 million to promote travel from drive-to and local markets.
Written by Ray Montgomery, US editor
