SUNSHINE STATE LOOKING HEALTHY

Florida welcomed 105 million visitors in 2015, the fifth consecutive record year for visitation to the Sunshine State and exceeding the previous high of 98.5 million in 2014 by 6.6 per cent, according to Visit Florida.

The rush to the sun included 1.7 million UK visitors, a five per cent increase on 2014. The second-largest contingent of European visitors was the 452,000-strong German visitors.

For 2015, the average daily room rate (ADR) rose 5.9 per cent and the number of rooms sold grew by 4.5 per cent compared to 2014. Florida’s average occupancy rate for 2015 was 72.0%, an increase of 3.2 per cent over 2014.

Florida Governor Rick Scott said: “With five consecutive record years for tourism, it is time to set our goal even higher, and I look forward to welcoming 115 million visitors to the Sunshine State in 2016.”

Samantha Padgett, a Member of the Visit Florida Board of Directors and Vice President and General Counsel for the Florida Retail Federation, said: “Record tourism means great news for Florida’s 270,000 retailers who depend on Sunshine State travellers to purchase gifts and memories from their visit.”