Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Guest AuthorDecember 15, 2017

Travel and tourism have long served as the backbone of Florida’s economy, which is now the 18th largest in the world. Here in Pensacola, we’re proud that our city has emerged as a driving force of this growth industry. In just the past year, the Pensacola region welcomed 2.7 million visitors who have invested $787 […]

Ana CeballosNovember 20, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott announced Monday a state tourism record, attributing it in part to the “aggressive marketing efforts” of VISIT FLORIDA, which has been entangled in a political fight for its existence, largely funded by taxpayers. Scott said the state welcomed 88.2 million tourists in the first nine months of the year, which is a […]

Peter SchorschNovember 15, 2017

There’s nothing more aggravating than seeing the Legislature finally do the right thing, only to see local authorities attempt to undermine that progress. Take, for instance, the maddening example of Florida airports and the extra fees they tack on when travelers try to leave the airport property. Since the Legislature passed uniform regulations for ridesharing […]

Terry RoenNovember 1, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott announced the kick-off Wednesday of a new discount program to lure Canadian visitors back to Florida. The Canadian Power Play Program makes it more affordable for Canadian families to travel to the state through travel deals from Visit Florida partners offering 20 percent discounts at Florida hotels, attractions and car rentals. Canada […]

Associated PressSeptember 13, 2017

Florida could recover from Hurricane Irma’s wrath in time for its busy tourism season this winter, but that’s likely not the case for harder-hit Caribbean islands including St. Martin/St. Maarten, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Barbuda, according to travel experts’ early reads. Damage assessments still were underway yesterday, but impacts on Florida’s $100 […]

Terry RoenAugust 25, 2017

House Speaker Richard Corcoran sent letters Friday to 12 tourism development councils that severed ties with Visit Florida demanding accountability and transparency in the way they spend taxpayer dollars. Visit Orlando is one of the 12 councils that cut ties with Visit Florida, after the state marketing agency was criticized for spending $1.25 million to […]

Associated PressAugust 24, 2017

Florida’s tourism marketing agency paid nearly $441,000 in employee bonuses this summer despite months of scrutiny from legislators over spending. A VISIT FLORIDA spokesman said the use of bonuses was approved in May 2016. Stephen Lawson added that VISIT FLORIDA wouldn’t use employee bonuses in the future. VISIT FLORIDA paid the bonuses in July to […]

Scott PowersJuly 4, 2017

Tourism officials are keeping a cautious eye on the horizon, beyond the coast, beyond the sea, to see if the harsh isolationist international rhetoric and tough policies of President Donald Trump could sour foreign tourists on Florida. University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith and Visit Orlando President George Aguel both warned Orange County officials […]

Scott PowersJune 23, 2017

Stark differences of policy positions were evident between the one Democrat and three of the four Republicans running to fill the open Florida House District 44 seat but the differences between the Republicans proved more subtle in a debate Friday, boiling down to who claimed the strongest ownership of particular GOP positions. The debate sponsored […]

Tag: tourism

Big in Canada: VISIT FLORIDA efforts correlate with increased visitation

Ashton Hayward: Residents, tourists alike can benefit from sharing economy

Visit Florida reports record nine-month tourism numbers

Ridesharing legislation is bringing us to the future, so why are airports still stuck in the past?

Rick Scott launches travel deals for Canadians

Irma effect on tourism mixed

Richard Corcoran accuses tourism councils of hiding taxpayer-financed activities

Despite scrutiny Florida’s tourism agency paid out bonuses

Tourism officials cautious about what federal rhetoric might do to international visitors’ interests

HD 44 special election candidates debate health care, education, marijuana, tourism support