Sunshine Matters

VISIT FLORIDA’s newly released preliminary international visitor numbers show that Florida welcomed a record 15.2 million international visitors from 186 countries who spent nearly $16.1 billion in the Sunshine State in 2013.   These figures represent a 9% increase in visitation and an 8% increase in visitor spending over the previous year.

Canada continues to be the top international country for travel to Florida, with 3.7 million visitors spending nearly $4.4 billion.  Brazil ranked second overall and first among overseas visitors to Florida, with 1.8 million Brazilians traveling to Florida in 2013 who spent nearly $2.4 billion.  The U.K., Argentina and Venezuela round out the top five international countries for visitation to Florida.

South America has supplanted Europe as the top region for visitors to Florida, accounting for 4.7 million visitors or 31% of total international visitors in 2013. Europe was second with 3.9 million visitors, followed closely by Canada with 3.7 million.  The top three world regions combined account for 80% of all international visitors to Florida last year.

South America is also tops in visitor spending, at $5.3 billion or 33% of the total international spend in Florida in 2013. Canada comes in second at $4.4 billion and Europe third at $2.9 billion.  These top three world regions combined account for 78% of all international spending in the Sunshine State in 2013.