Florida grapples with international tourism lag

[Zorro]

The U.S. Department of State said the delay stems from a combination of “pent-up demand” for visas, as countries have lifted COVID-19 restrictions, mixed with regular seasonal demand.

Florida tourism leaders continue to fret over a lag in international visitors as the industry anticipates tourism numbers for the final three months of 2022.

While Visit Florida, the state’s tourism-marketing agency, boasts that Florida is the top U.S. destination for overseas travelers based on market share, numbers of international visitors to the state and nation remain far below pre-pandemic totals.

Visit Florida President and CEO Dana Young last week expressed concerns that global inflation and lengthy visa-processing times could affect the final numbers for 2022 and tourism in 2023.

“The wait time to get an interview for a visa in Mexico City is 693 days. In Lima, Peru, it is 831 days,” Young told members of the Visit Florida Executive Committee. “This is absolutely ridiculous, and it is impacting our international visitation.”

https://www.tampabay.com/news/business/2023/01/30/florida-grapples-with-international-tourism-lag/

Of course it must be the federal government's fault that the number of international visitors to Florida is down; it can't have anything to do with DeSantis turning Florida into an open-carry cesspool that enacts legislation to discriminate against those who don't agree with MAGA orthodoxy.

[SheilaAnn]

1. Many travelers won't come to America because of the guns. GUNS are killing the industry. n/t

[riverbendviewgal]

4. This is my reason for not coming anymore.

I used to winter in Florida and travel through the USA. No more, guns are the main reason and the crazy people who own them. I live in Canada. Many of my friends feel the same way.

[Thomas Hurt]

2. They might consider that their fascist governor isn't helping either.

[Walleye]

3. Globalists!!!?

[RockRaven]

5. Between the guns and COVID, why wouldn't an international tourist choose just about any other

country in the Gulf or Caribbean?

[Phoenix61]

6. Unintended consequence of electing a wanna be fascist dictator

Add in daily mass shootings and out of control police why is anyone surprised?

[bronxiteforever]

8. +1

[Phoenix61]

9. I'm currently in Australia.

They think we are crazy and didn’t understand why we allow the violence to continue.

[The Unmitigated Gall]

7. Tourists can go to Florida...

To see schools with no books on the shelves.

Then they can fly to Idaho, to watch grown men marry their underage relatives.

[CanonRay]

10. Maybe everyone and his brother carrying a gun

is impacting tourism? Plus having the right to shoot first and think later. Ever think of that? I'd be scared to go to Florida.

[Chainfire]

12. DeSantis has promised to bring open carry to Florida.

If they think that Euro tourism sucks now, just wait. There are a lot of cowboy types around Orlando....

[Baitball Blogger]

13. I'm sure that Ron De Santis' anti-anything but Anglo heritage is just the final straw.

Why come to Florida and support a state which is showing symptoms of fascism?

Wake up De Santis. People who have lived in autocratic nations know what you are about.

[OldBaldy1701E]

14. My thought exactly. It can't be that! (n/t)

[Cheezoholic]

15. Anyone remember the rest stop killings back in the 90's?

Its the reason Fl. stopped putting special plates on rental cars. It also severely affected the foreign tourist industry, by over 50%, for a couple of years. People don't realize how big the European tourist industry, especially from the UK, means to FL business. Now with concealed carry no permit looming Europeans are going to be warned once again to stay away from Fl.