• Miami-Dade County experienced a $20.2 billion economic impact from tourists during FY 2022-23, with revenue increasing by 3 percent from the previous year.
• Visitation rates grew by 3.5 percent, with a 4.4 percent rise in international tourism and a 25 percent increase in visits from Florida residents.
• The county’s hospitality sector also reported year-over-year gains.

Tourism in Miami-Dade County saw a rise in visitation and revenue during Fiscal Year 2022-23, according to figures released at the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) annual meeting last week.

Per the datasets, the county registered a $20.2 billion economic impact from visitors, marking a 3 percent increase in revenue compared to the year prior. Visitation rates also jumped by 3.5 percent, with international tourism numbers growing by 4.4 percent and a 25 percent rise in visits from Florida residents.

“Tourism tax dollars bolster public transportation, fund healthcare, and advance education, significantly improving the everyday lives of our community members,” said GMCVB President & CEO David Whitaker. “There is an indelible link between meeting the needs of our culturally vibrant community – and the economic benefits that tourism brings.”

Within the hospitality sector, GMCVB’s sales team logged 3,280 leads for local hotels, culminating in a 56 percent increase in confirmed bookings, translating to 446,000 room nights, up by 48 percent from last year.

For FY 2022-23, Miami-Dade County projects the accumulation of $44.4 million through its 2 percent Tourist Development tax. The 2 percent Tourist Development Surtax, which focuses on food and beverages sold in hotels and motels, is estimated to generate $9 million, while Convention Development expects an intake of $127.2 million.

“We’re seeing record-breaking revenue growth as we promote our diverse and inclusive community on a global stage,” continued Whitaker. “We saw a resurgence of Greater Miami and Miami Beach as a top destination for conventions, securing an impressive 14 new major event bookings to convene at the Miami Beach Convention Center.”

Broadly speaking, the state of Florida hosted a total of 33.1 million visitors between April and June. Of this total, 1.9 million came from overseas, while 846,000 visitors originated from Canada. Overall visitation during the timeframe totaled 70.8 million visitors, reflecting a 1.3 percent increase over the first half of 2022 and a 4.5 percent rise above pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

In a separate data measurement, Florida recorded 37.9 million tourists during the first three months of 2023, making up the largest volume of visitors across a three-month span in state history.

Florida’s cruise industry also reported positive economic activity this year, with the state claiming the world’s top three cruise homeports: the Port of Miami, Port Canaveral, and Port Everglades. Florida-based cruise activity’s direct expenditures generated 158,992 jobs, $8.1 billion in income across the state, and more than $9.0 billion in direct revenue for Florida businesses, with 11 million passengers in 2022.