Governor Jeb Bush has announced that a record 75.6 million visitors traveled to Florida during 2003, exceeding the previous record set in 2002 by nearly two-and-a-half percent. According to preliminary end-of-year data released by VISIT FLORIDA, the state's official tourism marketing corporation, the estimated number of domestic (U.S.) visitors to the state in 2003 totaled 69.6 million, an increase of 2.5 percent over 2002, while the number of Canadian visitors surged nearly six percent to just under 1.7 million for the year. The lone decrease was a slight drop in the number of overseas visitors to Florida, which was off 1.1 percent to 4.4 million.

VISIT FLORIDA's preliminary estimate for the fourth quarter of 2003 compared with the same time a year ago indicate the following:

• 16.5 million domestic visitors, up 3.4 percent
  
• 1.2 million overseas visitors, up 6.1 percent
  
• 335,000 Canadian visitors, up 7.8 percent

The percentage of visitors arriving by air versus non-air means grew sharply during the period with an estimated 49.9 percent of Florida visitors arriving by air compared to 41.2 percent air arrivals in the third quarter.

Enplanements at the state's 14 largest airports rose by a dramatic seven percent during the fourth quarter. Much of this was driven by aggressive schedule expansion on the part of low fare air carriers, although several full-service airlines have increased Florida service, as have some charter flights with new service to some Florida airports. This is a healthy trend for Florida tourism, as visitors who arrive by air tend to stay longer and spend more while they are here.

Source: VISIT FLORIDA Inc.