Florida’s tourism industry generated a record $133.6 billion in economic impact in 2024, according to VISIT FLORIDA’s latest Economic Impact of Tourism study. The report also found that the tax revenues from travel and tourism activities allowed each of Florida’s more than nine million households to save nearly $2,000 on taxes.
Last year, out-of-state visitors spent $134.9 billion in Florida, which was a 3% increase compared to 2023. Of this total, American travelers contributed $120.1 billion while international visitors added $14.8 billion. The study highlighted that for every dollar spent by a visitor, 99 cents remained within the state—a slight improvement from the previous year when 97 cents stayed in Florida.
Tourism supported approximately 1.8 million jobs across the state and produced $79.9 billion in wages during 2024, marking a 4.6% growth over the previous year. Additionally, tourism activity resulted in $33.6 billion collected in federal, state, and local taxes—an increase of 3.3% from last year.
Governor Ron DeSantis commented on the significance of these findings: “Our tourism industry is critical to Florida’s strong economic position,” he said. “Florida remains the top destination for travelers from across the country and the world because we prioritize freedom and safety. Tourism fuels jobs and keeps Florida’s economy strong.”
Bryan Griffin, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA, emphasized how vital tourism is for both residents and businesses: “Tourism drives Florida’s economy,” Griffin said. “This new data from VISIT FLORIDA’s economic impact study demonstrates the value of Florida’s investment in tourism and tourism marketing. Florida’s 9.1 million households are saving nearly $2,000 a year because of the tax revenues generated by Florida tourism. VISIT FLORIDA will continue to responsibly steward this valuable investment for Florida’s residents.”
The Rockport Analytics report underscored several milestones:
– A record-breaking 143 million visitors came to Florida in 2024.
– Visitor spending by out-of-state travelers rose by three percent.
– The travel and tourism sector represented nearly eight percent (7.8%) of Florida’s Nominal Gross State Product.
– Without revenue from tourism activities, each household would need to pay an additional $1,730 annually just to maintain current levels of public services.
These figures highlight how central travel remains not only for employment but also as a source of public funding throughout Florida.
