What impact have the recent storms had in Florida?
Hotel tax collections are down in two popular areas, Orange County and Panama City Beach, reports the Associated Press.
“A potentially bad sign amid an otherwise strong recovery from a post-Sept. 11 freefall that trimmed 20% of the state’s $57 billion industry,” said the AP.
Some areas of Florida such as Miami-Dade reported higher tax collections.
No figures were available from Central Florida’s theme parks, which traditionally do not release any numbers.
But despite some bad weather, about 5 million more visitors came to Florida last year than in 2003.
And a spokesperson for Walt Disney World said their numbers should be up in part because of the promotion of Disney’s 50th anniversary.
Report by David Wilkening
