Scott says 2015 tourism ahead of record pace

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Halfway through the year, Florida appeared to be on a record-setting pace for tourism. 

Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday announced the state attracted 54.1 million visitors in the first six months of 2015, 5.8 percent more than in same period of 2014, and a number that should put Florida on track to reach Scott's goal of 100 million visitors.

"Our growing tourism industry employs over 1.2 million Floridians and is helping us meet our goal of becoming the best place in the world for jobs," Scott said in a prepared statement.

Scott has been pushing lawmakers since the summer of 2013 to increase funding for Visit Florida, the state's tourism-marketing arm, in an effort to attract 100 million visitors in a single year.

Visit Florida, which for two consecutive years has received $74 million from the state, estimates there were 98.77 million domestic and international visitors in 2014, of which 51.1 million traveled to the Sunshine State between Jan. 1 and June 30 of that year.

The 2014 total has been altered since it was first announced at 97.3 million in February. Upon further review of travel-related data the number was moved up to 98.9 million before the latest revision.

Visit Florida estimates that the 2014 visitors spent $73 billion while in the state.

Domestic travelers account for 45.7 percent of the 2015 tourists, 6.7 percent more than in the same six-month period a year earlier.

The 5.5 million overseas tourists to Florida so far this year represent a 1.7 percent jump from the same period a year earlier. And the 2.9 million Canadians this year stands at 1.1 percent more than in the first half of 2014.