Florida set another record in tourism by welcoming 105 million tourists in 2015, Gov. Rick Scott announced Thursday.
This is the fifth consecutive record year for visitation in Florida, exceeding the previous high of 98.5 million in 2014 by 6.6 percent. The average number of direct travel-related jobs in 2015 was also a record high, with about 1.2 million Floridians employed in the tourism industry — up 53,400 (or 4.7 percent) over the same period last year.
Scott made the announcement from Epcot at Walt Disney World in Orlando, along with Mickey Mouse and a group of Disney World legacy employees.
"If you stop and think about it, we have the best thing to market. Look at our weather, look at our beaches, look at our parks, look at our people — all those things together mean we're going to get more tourists," Scott said.
"Tourism plays an important role in supporting our economy, and we will continue to make strategic investments in the tourism industry to keep Florida on track to becoming first for jobs," he said. Scott wants to welcome 115 million visitors to Florida this year.
VISIT FLORIDA estimates that a record 89.8 million domestic visitors traveled to Florida in 2015, reflecting an 8 percent increase over 2014. Estimates also show that 11.2 million overseas visitors and 4 million Canadians came to the Sunshine State last year.