Record Number of Tourists Visit Florida
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118433)
Gainesville, Florida
February 18, 2016 7:48pm CST
The Governor's office just released preliminary data showing that 105 million tourists flocked to the Sunshine State last year to visit Florida's theme parks, beaches, parks and cultural amenities. This is the 5th year in a row that a record number of tourists visited Florida. The previous record was 99 million set in 2014.
The data was provide by Visit Florida, the state's tourism marketing arm, and the numbers easily beat Governor Scott's projection that Florida would surpass the 100 million mark. He has set an impressive goal for 2016 to attract 115 million visitors.
Of the 105 million visitors last year, 4 million came from Canada and 11 million came from overseas. Visit Florida has stated that for every 85 tourists who visit the Sunshine State, one new full-time job is created.
Did you happen to be one of the 105 million people who visited Florida last year (if you live in Florida already, it doesn't count)? Did you enjoy your visit? What was your favorite part of the visit, or what area of the state did you enjoy most?
11 people like this
12 responses
@VivaLaDani13 (60314)
• Perth, Australia
11 Mar 18
@moffittjc 
This makes me want to travel right now. Getting very agitated over here. You make Florida sound so wonderful!
This makes me want to travel right now. Getting very agitated over here. You make Florida sound so wonderful!1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Mar 18
This is a very beautiful time of year to be in Florida! It's spring time here right now, and all the trees and flowers are blooming! If you can handle the pollen, the beautiful flowers and sweet fragrances are quite a delight! And all the citrus trees are blooming too, and their fragrance is captivating!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Mar 18
@VivaLaDani13 Sometimes a change of scenery can do wonders for a person's soul!
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60314)
• Perth, Australia
12 Mar 18
@moffittjc Sounds lovely! Would be a nice change of scenery.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
19 Feb 16
@moffittjc No, it was Miami. We stayed overnight at somewhere called the 'Bay' - can't remember it's proper name, then we went down to Fort Lauderdale to get the ship.
On another cruise we were supposed to be going to Key West, but there was a storm so we couldn't get in.
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Feb 16
@jaboUK Oh nice, you were in Miami! Nice place. The "Bay" place you stayed at sounds like Biscayne Bay. Beautiful area. So your ship sailed out of Ft. Lauderdale? I'm surprised you didn't sail out of the Port of Miami.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Feb 16
Where did you stop in Florida? Was it Key West?
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
20 Feb 16
@moffittjc Yes, the mosquitoes will be too bloated to bother with me now.
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Feb 16
See...a 105 million victims (uh, I mean tourists) paved the way for you to have a safe and enjoyable visit!
1 person likes this
@Blondie2222 (28611)
• United States
21 Feb 16
Florida is a great tourist place and i would love to go there some day. I haven't been since I was 8 years old
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Feb 16
A should come visit! It's a nice place! We have something for everyone--abundant nature, world-class beaches, sunshine, theme parks, islands, etc. There is just so much neat stuff to do hear!
@JudyEv (325653)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb 16
I've never been to Florida but I always seem to be reading about it.
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Feb 16
Are the things you read about Florida good or bad?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Feb 16
@JudyEv Yes, it does get hot and humid here!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325653)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb 16
@moffittjc They've all been good except the crocodiles, poisonous snakes, spiders - oh - no - that's Australia isn't it? Haha. I know it gets humid which I'm not keen on and there is the occasional tornado which I'd like even less.
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Feb 16
Where did your nephew live?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Feb 16
@whiteream I was just down in Ft. Myers recently! I love Ft. Myers Beach!
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (79676)
• United States
19 Feb 16
I've been a tourist visiting Florida a few times but not recently
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Feb 16
What's your favorite part of the state? Or, where have you visited the most in Florida?
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
19 Feb 16
I have never visited Florida (YET) but I would love to one day.
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
19 Feb 16
Yes, as you know, I spent two weeks in December in Key West. My favorite part was the Butterfly Conservatory. I also loved the Truman White House. Gorgeous wood moldings throughout.
@RonElFran (1214)
• Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
19 Feb 16
No, I haven't been to Florida in years. And with snow still covering the ground here, I'm really not feeling that charitable toward the Sunshine State right now.
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Feb 16
I would think that with all that snow on the ground, you'd be longing to get back to the Sunshine State as fast as you could! lol
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Feb 16
And I was among those 105 million tourists! I preferred the gulf coast to the Atlantic coast.
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Feb 16
The only part of Florida on the Atlantic coast that I like better than the Gulf Coast is St. Augustine. Otherwise, I'm in agreement with you...I prefer the Gulf coast. The beaches are much nicer.
