• The State of Florida set a new record in tourist visitation for Q3 of 2023, with an estimated 35.1 million visitors, an increase from both 2022 and pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
• The total number of visitors in the first three quarters of 2023 reached 105.2 million, a rise from the previous year, with domestic tourists being the majority, supplemented by rising numbers of overseas and Canadian visitors.
• Travel spending during this period also saw an uptick of 11.3 percent compared to 2019, surpassing national averages and other high-population states.

The State of Florida has set a new record for tourist visitation in the third quarter of 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Thursday. The state welcomed an estimated 35.1 million visitors between July and September, marking an increase from years prior.

Per the latest figures from Visit Florida, the state’s tourism agency, the third quarter of 2023 saw a 1.6 percent rise in visitation compared to the same period in 2022 and an 8.0 percent increase compared to 2019.

The total number of visitors to Florida in the first three quarters of 2023 reached 105.2 million, surpassing the count from the corresponding period last year by 724,000.

The breakdown of the third-quarter figures shows a  mix of domestic and international tourists, with the former accounting for the majority, with 32.2 million, while overseas and Canadian visitors contributed 2.2 million and 666,000, respectively, while concurrently showing a broader uptick in international visitations.

“Florida continues to set records for visitation because of our commitment to allowing visitors to enjoy their travels without arbitrary government restrictions,” said DeSantis. “Florida will continue to be a beacon of freedom for travelers.”

Data also shows that travel spending in Florida during the third quarter was up by 11.3 percent compared to the same period in 2019, outperforming the national average and eclipsing other high-population states like California and New York.

“Visit Florida’s efforts, in conjunction with local tourism partners, do more than spotlight the unparalleled beauty of the Sunshine State but have also fueled a growth in visitation from global travelers,” said Dana Young, President and CEO of Visit Florida. “Because of the visionary leadership of Governor DeSantis, whose Freedom First policies led our state to record numbers of visitors in the past, Florida has secured a new normal with an elevated market share of tourism, especially international tourism.”