Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida hospitality and tourism leaders, including the Florida Attractions Association, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Florida RV Park & Campground Association, Florida Association of Museums, Destinations Florida and VISIT FLORIDA, today are celebrating Florida Tourism Day, which recognizes hospitality and tourism as the state’s top economic driver, a major job creator and a source of revenue that benefits communities across Florida.
Following a morning program and networking lunch, representatives of Florida’s tourism industry walked the halls of the Florida Capitol to share with lawmakers the major positive impact local tourism has on their districts and their constituents’ quality of life.
This year’s Florida Tourism Day will culminate with the first-ever Florida Tourism Day Expo this evening beginning at 5 p.m. on S. Admas Street (between Jefferson Street and College Avenue) in downtown Tallahassee.
The event will feature a series of booths and interactive exhibits, food and beverage samples, games, live music and entertainment, mascots, animal encounters, and giveaways. Attendees will have the opportunity to be entered into a raffle for Florida-themed prizes by visiting each booth and having their Florida Tourism Day Expo Passport stamped. The Expo is free and open to the public.
Tourism and efforts to attract visitors to Florida’s many destinations have significant positive impacts for all residents of the state. Thanks to tourism and the revenue tourism generates:
- Florida residents do not pay a state income tax making Florida one of only eight states without a state income tax.
- Every Florida household saves more than $1,900 a year on state and local taxes.
- Communities can provide critical services residents rely on, such as education, public safety, infrastructure, and environmental programs.
- More than 2 million Floridians have jobs in hotels, restaurants, attractions, and other tourism-reliant businesses.
Florida’s tourism industry was responsible for welcoming a record-breaking 142.9 million visitors to Florida in 2024. That visitation generated $127.7 billion in economic impact and supported 2.1 million jobs in 2023, making tourism a key economic engine benefiting Florida families.
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