Just as the summer vacation season kicks off, virtually every tourism indicator is going up in Florida - from hotel occupancy and room rates to the number of visitors.
That’s especially welcome news to the tourism industry here, which had concerns that last summer’s hurricanes might scare away this summer’s visitors.
Despite the four storms that struck in August and September of 2004, Florida still had a record number of visitors last year and tourism spending hit a record $57 billion, up 10.8 percent.
A March survey showed that only one in every 10 potential visitors was less likely to visit Florida because of hurricanes, down from one in five in October. And tourism spending for January and February rose to $10.6 billion, up 10.9 percent from the same months last year.
“Tourism numbers are up this year just like everything else,” Gov. Jeb Bush said. “The irony is that even though we were devastated by these storms, the economy in our state has never been stronger.”
Visit Florida, the state’s tourism marketing agency, has increased advertising to raise Florida’s profile as a destination. The agency is also paying for “Cover your event” insurance to soothe the fears of convention organizers..
More: courierpress.com
Related Travel Information
This Public Announcement is being issued to alert American citizens to the advent of Hurricane Season in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Hurricane season ends on November 30. This Public Announcement expires on December 5, 2005.
Washington, D.C. - infoZine - The National Weather Service has predicted as many as 15 tropical storms for 2005. Up to nine of those storms may become hurricanes, and three to five of them may develop into major hurricanes. In 2004, tropical storms and hurricanes caused widespread damage and casualties, including the temporary closure of affected U.S. Embassies and Consulates and the evacuation
Just as the summer vacation season kicks off, virtually every tourism indicator is going up in Florida - from hotel occupancy and room rates to the number of visitors.
That's especially welcome news to the tourism industry here, which had concerns that last summer's hurricanes might scare away this summer's visitors.
Despite the four storms that struck in August and September of 2004, Florida still had a record number of visitors last year. Tourism spending also reached a record $57 billion, up 10.8 percent from $51.5 billion in 2003.
A March survey showed that only one in every 10 potential
SCOTLAND'S tourism industry will go through a "blip" but recover within months from the fallout of the terrorist attacks in London.
Philip Riddle, chief executive of VisitScotland, said the industry could be affected if air passengers choose to transfer flights in Paris or Amsterdam rather than in London, which would result in fewer visiting Scotland as part of a trip to the UK.
Tourism contributes an estimated £4.5bn to £5bn to the Scottish economy each year, and directly or indirectly employs around 197,000.
The industry was badly affected by the fallout of the September 11 attacks, when the number of
The Commonwealth Tourism Ministers wrapped up the just-concluded meeting in Abuja, Nigeria and came up with far-reaching decision which include to be holding the conference every other two years instead of annually.
The communiqué issued at the end of the 4-day meet chaired by Nigeria's Tourism Minister Franklin Ogbuewu are the following:
- In giving due recognition to the importance of the tourism industry for the sustenance growth of all member countries, particularly small islands and developing states( SIDs) and African countries, the ministers highlighted the need to give special attention to their vulnerabilities and specifications.
-The ministers agreed to work together
The threat of an outbreak of the dreaded bird flu might affect the thriving tourism industry in the Caraga Region, an official here said.
Lake Mainit and Agusan Marshland, considered two of the premier ecotourism destinations in the country, are likely to suffer “tourism fallout” in the event of a bird flu outbreak, said Letty Tan, tourism director for the region.
Tan said local and foreign tourists had become wary of visiting the sites since the government listed them as among migratory bird “hotpots” that could spread the virus.
Source: news.inq7.net
