Some stories just get better with time. So it is with the tale of tourism in Florida. Putting the latest news up front, the Sunshine State is once again the top destination among U.S. travelers.
Ordinarily, this sort of announcement wouldn’t be even remotely noteworthy. Americans Make Florida No. 1 Destination. In Other News, the Sun Rose in the East Today.
However, not so terribly long ago, our good and thoughtful friends on the left, incensed by the no-apologies "where woke goes to die" conservative policies pursued by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the GOP-led Legislature, hoisted their Boycott Florida flags. Instantly, a delicious doom was forecast for the Sunshine State’s dominant industry.
A slew of new bills signed into law by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has draped the Sunshine State in controversy, spurring protests, lawsuits and travel advisories warning the state is “openly hostile” toward people of color, immigrants, women and LGBTQ+ community members.
The fallout is starting to spread to a key economic artery for an income-tax-free state heavily reliant upon tourism taxes: Florida's convention business.
In recent weeks, at least a dozen organizations have announced plans to either cancel or relocate their upcoming conferences scheduled to take place in Florida, making a statement by having their thousands of attendees and millions of dollars flow into other states deemed safer and more welcoming.
That was so titillating then. Vote for DeSantis, reap the DeSaster. Oh, Florida had it coming.
Monday, we suspect no thrills were running up the legs of the Alphabet Gang when DeSantis revealed the latest findings by Visit Florida, the state agency charged with marketing the state’s estimable qualities to the world. And those findings are unquestionably robust, bracing, and pretty much triumphant. Despite the frantic wave-offs by leftist activists, Florida didn’t merely limp across the finish line; for all the combined efforts of Wokeistan, Florida wasn’t No. 1 in a Derbyesque photo finish.
Instead, Florida is No. 1, says Visit Florida, and — because we are suckers for horseracing analogies— like Secretariat at the Belmont Stakes, surging, quite the daily double, indeed.
In 2023, Florida’s market share of domestic tourists increased to 14.8%, up from 13.8% in 2022. This surge in market share represents the largest increase of any state, underscoring Florida’s appeal to travelers from across the country.
Not that the DeSantis administration is the sort to spike the football … oh, wait. Of course it is. And good on ’em, too. You hoist your woke colors, you live with the consequences, ridicule included. While Florida was adding visitors, figures crunched by Visit Florida revealed fascinating tourism declines by woke darlings California (down 1.2%) and New York (0.8%).
Despite phony “travel advisories” from leftist advocacy groups, Florida remained the #1 domestic tourist destination in the U.S. in 2023 and ranked #2 in the country for international tourism.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 6, 2024
Our commitment to freedom and public safety—along with our world-class attractions… https://t.co/Oh0SbpX70i
Also fascinating: Florida tourism surged while DeSantis and the Walt Disney Co. sorted their differences over local governance, which arose after the House of the Mouse publicly sided with LGBTQ+ militants over the state’s Parental Rights in Education Act.
On this front, Iowa-based media talker Steve Deace posts insight.
Well, maybe “Lesbians in Space” will save them when it comes out next month? Another way of looking at this is DeSantis routed them so bad he helped kill them on the Rainbow Jihad content side, while reaping the reward on the Florida tourism side. https://t.co/63AgVFLF7U
— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) May 7, 2024
The report also includes a delightful uptick in international visitors in March, the highest since before the pandemic.
In March 2024, overseas visitation to Florida surpassed pre-pandemic levels for the first time, with a 1.7% increase compared to March 2019. Notably, visitation from key markets such as the UK, Germany, and Mexico saw significant growth, with UK visitation up by 12%, German visitation up by 28%, and Mexican visitation up 61% compared to the same month in 2019.
Any guesses why British subjects are swarming (possibly fleeing) to woke-free Florida? Hmmm.
“Sharia for UK” they shout… on the streets of Britain…
— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) May 5, 2024
So how’s UK tourism been doing since October 7? I know I hold no interest.pic.twitter.com/lX1zB1XhzF
And so, CBS Sunday Morning-style, we leave you with this, in which even nature votes to align with the charms of the Sunshine State in the Age of Ron DeSantis.
New from @NBC2: Flamingo population surges in Florida after Hurricane Idalia 🦩🦩🦩
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) May 7, 2024
Flamingos began popping up along Florida’s Gulf coast after Hurricane Idalia, which dropped off the colorful birds it picked up in Cuba and the Yucatan peninsula.
Florida Gulf Coast University… pic.twitter.com/gQ75VtFDNb
