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Staff ReportsNovember 29, 2018

Florida will have to consider economic incentives if it wants television and film productions to shoot here, according to Florida TaxWatch‘s newest research report. That idea has found favor in the state Senate, but runs counter to new Republican House Speaker Jose Oliva‘s stance, who has called production incentives “tantamount to corporate welfare.” Even GOP […]

Jacob OglesNovember 27, 2018

It looks like 2018 will be another record year for tourism in Florida, which could be good news both for the hospitality industry and for agencies promoting the state in the nation and abroad. Gov. Rick Scott announced Florida welcomed 95.8 million visitors from January through September, nearly a 7 percent increase from the 89.8 […]

Danny McAuliffeNovember 14, 2018

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Sunshine State sellers should beat 2017’s year-end shopping sales, according to the Florida Retail Federation, the state’s premier vendor association. That’s welcome news to Florida retailers, who typically rely on the swift-approaching days of festivities for 20-40 percent of their yearly sales. And “this time of year shines the spotlight even brighter on retailers and their impact,” FRF President and […]

Danny McAuliffeNovember 13, 2018

Hurricane Michael probably won’t change the trajectory of the Florida’s population, according to state economists. The Florida Demographic Estimating Conference, an arm of the Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research, recently adopted a revised population growth projection: About 14,000 more people are expected to set up residency in the Sunshine State by April 2019 than […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 17, 2018

Pinellas County Commissioner Janet Long told a panel of environmental scientists and Gulf Coast business leaders Wednesday efforts to mitigate red tide are in full swing and will continue as long as the massive algae bloom threatens Florida beaches, fisheries and recreation. Pinellas County has 13 boats collecting dead fish and conducting monitoring activities in […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 12, 2018

Some 65.5 million visitors came to Florida during the first six months of the year, setting a record for the state’s tourism industry. The numbers represent a 5.9 percent increase compared to the same period last year, Gov. Rick Scott said in a written statement released by his office. They included 58 million domestic visitors, […]

Danny McAuliffeAugust 13, 2018

Florida is now in a state of emergency over the impacts of red tide, a colloquialism used to describe the harmful algal blooms plaguing Florida’s Gulf Coast. Gov. Rick Scott issued the executive order declaring the state of emergency on Monday. “As Southwest Florida and the Tampa Bay area continues to feel the devastating impacts of […]

Scott PowersJuly 25, 2018

Meeting with state film industry leaders in Orlando Tuesday, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Philip Levine renewed his call for a determined push to bring the movie business back to Florida, using it as an example of 21st-century enterprises Florida is rebuffing. “What’s amazing to me: this is low-hanging fruit,” the former Miami Beach mayor said. “This […]

Scott PowersMay 9, 2018

Airbnb and Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló jointly announced new partnership initiatives Wednesday for the vacation rental-home marketing giant to promote tourism returning to the island. The initiatives will include promotions of Puerto Rico through Airbnb, the launch of an “Experiences” program, essentially private package tours to what Airbnb calls authentic Puerto Rican activities, and […]

Danny McAuliffeApril 23, 2018

State-backed tourism campaigns are producing a healthy return on investment. Numbers released Monday from VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s public-private marketing agency, indicate that more Canadians are choosing to retreat to the Sunshine State for vacation stays. The uptick follows increased marketing efforts in the United States’ neighbor to the north. Overall visitation saw an increase […]

Tag: tourism

Action! Florida TaxWatch revives TV, film incentives debate

VISIT FLORIDA: State on track for record tourism by end of 2018

Retailers optimistic about holiday season

Hurricane Michael unlikely to affect population growth

Pinellas Co. cleanup nets nearly 1K tons of red tide debris

Tourism update: Florida sets another record in attracting visitors

Red tide prompts state of emergency

Philip Levine: Quest for film business is part of 21st-century economy

Airbnb, Puerto Rico, announce partnership initiatives to foster tourism

Big in Canada: VISIT FLORIDA efforts correlate with increased visitation