By Paul Waldmiller
Did you know Florida seen a record number of tourists in the first quarter of 2024?
Recently, Governor Ron DeSantis’ press office reported that 40.6 million people travelled to visit Florida during the first three months of 2024. That is a 1.2% increase from last year. Florida tourism experts also revised the totals for 2023 and added numbers for that year as well.
Foreigners visiting our state during the first quarter was up slightly from last year, but still down from the pre-pandemic year of 2019. Canadians however visiting Florida was up 6.9 percent in compression to 2023, but they too did not visit Florida as they had during 2019.
With hurricane season beginning June 1st, no one can predict what the tourist levels will be here for the remaining year, especially with a prediction of a busier hurricane season than normally predicted. The Gulf and Atlantic Ocean waters are already warm according to meteorologists and that makes it more likely to not only see hurricanes, but more likely severe and larger hurricanes as well.
As coastal communities continue to recover from Hurricanes Ian and Idalia and other hurricanes throughout 2022 and 2023, some foreigners may be hesitant to visit our beaches. Only time will tell if the upward trend of visitors to Florida will continue.