Tourism brought in a record $112 billion to Florida’s economy in 2016, up about 3 percent from 2015, according to Visit Florida figures released Wednesday. About 10 percent — $88 billion — of the state’s gross domestic product came from tourism in 2016. The 2016 figures are the most recent available, as there is a year lag for tourism spending data.
“We are continuing to set visitation records in Florida,” Ken Lawson, Visit Florida CEO, said in a release. “We hope to continue building on this success by receiving full funding this upcoming year as we work to make Florida the number one global destination.”
Visitors spent the most on lodging — $31.8 billion, up 3.3 percent over the year — followed by food and beverages — $23 billion, up 4.2 percent over the same period. Tourists spent about $16 billion on recreational activities, up 3.6 percent from 2015.
