TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Businesses and communities across the state have made it clear that they support fully funding VISIT FLORIDA at $76 million.
Key Facts:
• Florida’s tourism industry supports 1.4 million jobs and VISIT FLORIDA’s efforts continue to attract record numbers of visitors to the state, including an all-time high of 126.1 million in 2018.
• According to the Florida Legislature’s Chief Economist, VISIT FLORIDA returns $2.15 back to taxpayers for every dollar invested.
• To date, VISIT FLORIDA has awarded $1.1 million to seven tourism development boards for Hurricane Michael recovery. This is in addition to a nearly $9 million marketing campaign launched following the storm to highlight the Sunshine State.
Kelli Godwin is the executive director of the Gulf County Tourist Development Council, a small, rural TDC with eight full-time employees. VISIT FLORIDA awarded $250,000 to the Gulf County TDC for hurricane recovery. The funding was requested by the TDC and will benefit their targeted marketing efforts as they continue to rebuild and recover from Hurricane Michael.