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Zorro

(16,296 posts)
Mon Jan 30, 2023, 01:12 PM Jan 2023

Florida grapples with international tourism lag

The U.S. Department of State said the delay stems from a combination of “pent-up demand” for visas, as countries have lifted COVID-19 restrictions, mixed with regular seasonal demand.

Florida tourism leaders continue to fret over a lag in international visitors as the industry anticipates tourism numbers for the final three months of 2022.

While Visit Florida, the state’s tourism-marketing agency, boasts that Florida is the top U.S. destination for overseas travelers based on market share, numbers of international visitors to the state and nation remain far below pre-pandemic totals.

Visit Florida President and CEO Dana Young last week expressed concerns that global inflation and lengthy visa-processing times could affect the final numbers for 2022 and tourism in 2023.

“The wait time to get an interview for a visa in Mexico City is 693 days. In Lima, Peru, it is 831 days,” Young told members of the Visit Florida Executive Committee. “This is absolutely ridiculous, and it is impacting our international visitation.”

https://www.tampabay.com/news/business/2023/01/30/florida-grapples-with-international-tourism-lag/

Of course it must be the federal government's fault that the number of international visitors to Florida is down; it can't have anything to do with DeSantis turning Florida into an open-carry cesspool that enacts legislation to discriminate against those who don't agree with MAGA orthodoxy.
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riverbendviewgal

(4,320 posts)
4. This is my reason for not coming anymore.
Mon Jan 30, 2023, 01:22 PM
Jan 2023

I used to winter in Florida and travel through the USA. No more, guns are the main reason and the crazy people who own them. I live in Canada. Many of my friends feel the same way.

RockRaven

(16,280 posts)
5. Between the guns and COVID, why wouldn't an international tourist choose just about any other
Mon Jan 30, 2023, 01:27 PM
Jan 2023

country in the Gulf or Caribbean?

Phoenix61

(17,649 posts)
6. Unintended consequence of electing a wanna be fascist dictator
Mon Jan 30, 2023, 01:32 PM
Jan 2023

Add in daily mass shootings and out of control police why is anyone surprised?

Phoenix61

(17,649 posts)
9. I'm currently in Australia.
Mon Jan 30, 2023, 02:43 PM
Jan 2023

They think we are crazy and didn’t understand why we allow the violence to continue.

The Unmitigated Gall

(4,523 posts)
7. Tourists can go to Florida...
Mon Jan 30, 2023, 01:35 PM
Jan 2023

To see schools with no books on the shelves.

Then they can fly to Idaho, to watch grown men marry their underage relatives.

CanonRay

(14,867 posts)
10. Maybe everyone and his brother carrying a gun
Mon Jan 30, 2023, 02:44 PM
Jan 2023

is impacting tourism? Plus having the right to shoot first and think later. Ever think of that? I'd be scared to go to Florida.

Response to Zorro (Original post)

 

Chainfire

(17,757 posts)
12. DeSantis has promised to bring open carry to Florida.
Mon Jan 30, 2023, 02:57 PM
Jan 2023

If they think that Euro tourism sucks now, just wait. There are a lot of cowboy types around Orlando....

Baitball Blogger

(48,061 posts)
13. I'm sure that Ron De Santis' anti-anything but Anglo heritage is just the final straw.
Mon Jan 30, 2023, 05:11 PM
Jan 2023

Why come to Florida and support a state which is showing symptoms of fascism?

Wake up De Santis. People who have lived in autocratic nations know what you are about.

Cheezoholic

(2,616 posts)
15. Anyone remember the rest stop killings back in the 90's?
Mon Jan 30, 2023, 11:03 PM
Jan 2023

Its the reason Fl. stopped putting special plates on rental cars. It also severely affected the foreign tourist industry, by over 50%, for a couple of years. People don't realize how big the European tourist industry, especially from the UK, means to FL business. Now with concealed carry no permit looming Europeans are going to be warned once again to stay away from Fl.

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