In a time of unemployment and uncertainty, the sun is shining in Florida, where tourism was up 7 percent in the second quarter compared to a year ago.
Visit Florida, the state’s tourism agency, says that 21.2 million travelers visited Florida from April to June, an almost 7 percent increase from the same period in 2010.
“There also were 5.6 million pleasure trips taken by Florida residents in-state during the second quarter,” says Visit Florida.
Overall, there was a 5.3 increase in domestic visitors, a 17.3 percent increase in the overseas market and an 18.4 percent increase in Canadian travel to Florida.
Airports saw more business, too, with so-called “enplanements” rising 5 percent.
Meanwhile, hotel occupancy rates were up 4 percentage points and the average daily room rate rose 4.8 percent from a year ago.
By David Wilkening
