• Visit Florida’s data release on Wednesday shows an uptick in international visitors compared to years prior, reaching the highest recorded numbers since 2019.
• The dataset, covering the initial two quarters of 2023, accounts for a 21.8 percent rise in overseas visitation and an 81.1 percent increase in Canadian visitation in comparison to the same period in 2022.
• Florida hosted a total of 33.1 million visitors during the second quarter of 2023, encompassing 1.9 million overseas visitors and 846,000 visitors from Canada. This elevated the state’s overall visitation count for 2023 to 70.8 million, marking a 1.3 percent increase over the first half of 2022 and a 4.5 percent growth compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Data released by Visit Florida on Wednesday indicates an increase in international visitors to the state, reaching the highest numbers recorded since 2019.

Covers the initial two quarters of this year, the dataset shows a rise in overseas visitation by 21.8 percent and Canadian visitation by 81.1 percent when compared to the same period in 2022.

Between April and June 2023, Florida hosted a total of 33.1 million visitors. Of this total, 1.9 million came from overseas, while 846,000 visitors originated from Canada. Overall visitation thus far totaled 70.8 million visitors, reflecting a 1.3 percent increase over the initial half of 2022 and a 4.5 percent rise above pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

“While other states have finally opened their doors to domestic visitors and created more competition, Florida is again leading in international visitors,” said Dana Young, Visit Florida President and CEO. “Florida has the largest share of international visitors ahead of New York and California and we lead the nation in overseas arrival recovery compared to 2019.”

Within the second quarter of 2023, Florida saw an 11 percent increase in overseas visitation and a 20.8 percent rise in Canadian visitors when compared to the corresponding period in 2022. Domestic visitation also demonstrated growth with a 4.6 percent increase over the second quarter of 2019.

In total, 33.1 million individuals traveled to Florida during the second financial quarter, marking a 2.6 percent rise from the same period in 2019, though serves as a 1.2 percent dip compared to 2022. Visitor demographics for the second quarter were comprised of 30.3 million domestic visitors, 1.9 million international visitors, and 846,000 visitors from Canada. Domestic visitors constituted the majority at 91.6 percent, while overseas visitors accounted for 5.9 percent, and Canadian visitors comprised 2.6 percent.

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 earlier this year, with the state claiming the world’s top three cruise homeports, the Port of Miami, Port Canaveral, and Port Everglades, and being home to the largest cruise ships in the world. 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.

Moreover, the Office of Economic and Demographic Research reports a return of $3.27 in state tax revenue for every dollar invested in Visit Florida.