Florida Tourism Continued To Grow in Third Quarter [Jeb: "2003 will be the best year yet."]

http://www.myflorida.com ^ | Dec 6, 2003 | State of Florida

[summer]

Jeb Bush
(FL's Favorite Governor)

Florida Tourism Continued To Grow in Third Quarter

~ Visits to state’s tourism website, www.flausa.com

TALLAHASSEE - Governor Jeb Bush today announced the number of tourists visiting Florida during the 3rd quarter of 2003 increased by one-and-a-half percent compared to the same period last year. From July through the end of September, nearly 20 million people visited the Sunshine State. According to data released today by VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official tourism marketing corporation, the state is on track to break the record 59.3 million who visited the state last year.

"These figures are extremely encouraging,” said Governor Bush. “Not only are we seeing an ongoing increase in the number of actual visitors to our state, but we are also seeing a dramatic rise in the number of potential visitors logging onto VISIT FLORIDA’s consumer web site, www.flausa.com. Since research shows around two-thirds of those internet visitors will in fact take a trip to Florida within six months after touring the website, we have every reason to expect 2003 will be the best year yet for Florida tourism."

VISIT FLORIDA’s preliminary estimate for the third quarter of 2003 compared with the same time a year ago indicates 18.5 million domestic visitors, up 1.9 percent. According to VISIT FLORIDA, the number of visitors to its web site is now averaging about 135,000 per week, an increase of nearly 40 percent from the same time last year.

The percentage of visitors arriving by air versus non-air means grew slightly during the period with an estimated 41.2 percent of Florida visitors arriving by air in the most recent third quarter and 58.8 percent non-air, compared to 40.5 percent air and 59.5 percent non-air for the same period in 2002.

For more information visit www.flausa.com or www.myflorida.com.

[summer]

FYI -- :)!

[summer]

FL folks, FYI. :)

[Bringbackthedraft]

Great, Now more vehicle traffic in the summer to catch up with the traffic now.

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

Oh, I don't mind the tourists. Who wouldn't want to be down here in FL with the sun and the beaches -- especially now, with the snow expected elsewhere?

[exit82]

You would send this while there is snow falling in my neck of the woods!!!!!!

[Bringbackthedraft]

Come on down. Be prepared to pay 2 dollars an hour to park by the beach. Wait in traffic a mile long waiting to go over the bridges to the beach and then go nuts trying to find a place to park.

For those of us lucky enough to live by the water its not a problem, jump into our boat and go at idle speed to the nearest beach. (Gotta go extra slow, don't wan't to disturb all those manatees and get fined $250.00 for doing 5mph.) With so many areas being restricted who can have any fun on the water?

But then there is golfing, no problem there, lots of courses, just make advanced reservations. Street traffic gives you the opportunity to see how many states there are in the USA,(counting license plates) lots of time to do so as traffic on the main streets moves slooooow. On the bright side we moved there and still love it inspite of the draw backs. The summer is best though, no traffic, no waits.

[Libloather]

The Florida RAT Convention was just on C-Span - live. A lively event - where Graham officially dropped out of any race. His speech was garbage but it got the weak-minded crowd jazzed.

Its being held at the Disney resort. Too funny...

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thanks, summer. Good news.

Gulf water temp has already dropped to 70. Brrr. (^:

[KC_for_Freedom]

Happy waiting out the northern cold in the Florida Keys. Florida can have some of my money for this weather. (PS, they are taking it at a high rate down here.)

[Celtjew Libertarian]

And I had an aunt, uncle, and distant cousin helping out on the 4th quarter tourism stats for the 4th quarter. Add on a trip to Epcot in a few weeks with my kids and parents and I'll have done my share. 8>)

[MeekOneGOP]

[windchime]

Thanks for the ping, summer! Glad to have the visitors here.

[potlatch]

Good news for Florida, summer! My daughter lives in Harlingen, Tx. The 'snow-birds' come in droves down there. Progresso, Mexico is right across the border and wall to wall 'snow-birds' in the winter!!