Florida is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The state is known for its beautiful beaches, theme parks, wildlife reserves, and vibrant cities.
With millions of visitors arriving in Florida every year, it’s important to know who is responsible for overseeing and managing tourism in the state. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at who is in charge of tourism in Florida.
The Role of Visit Florida
Visit Florida is the official tourism marketing corporation for the state of Florida. It was created in 1996 as a public-private partnership between the state government and private industry leaders to promote tourism throughout the state. Visit Florida’s mission is to enhance and promote Florida’s tourism industry to maximize economic impact, create jobs and support quality of life for Floridians.
Visit Florida’s Key Responsibilities
Visit Florida is responsible for a variety of tasks that are essential to promoting tourism in the state. Some of their key responsibilities include:
- Marketing and advertising campaigns to promote Florida as a tourist destination
- Cultivating relationships with travel agents and tour operators to encourage them to sell Florida as a destination
- Providing visitor information through their website, social media channels, and visitor centers located throughout the state
- Conducting research on travel trends and visitor behavior to better understand what visitors are looking for when they come to Florida
- Working with local tourism boards and chambers of commerce to create packages that promote local attractions
- Promoting sustainable tourism practices that protect natural resources while still allowing visitors to enjoy them.
The Role of Local Tourism Boards
In addition to Visit Florida, each county has its own local tourist development council (TDC) or convention & visitors bureau (CVB) responsible for promoting tourism within their respective areas. These organizations are funded by a tourist tax collected on hotel rooms and short-term rentals.
Local Tourism Boards’ Key Responsibilities
The local TDCs or CVBs play a vital role in promoting tourism in their regions. Some of their key responsibilities include:
- Developing marketing strategies to promote local attractions, events, and festivals.
- Providing visitor information through their websites, brochures, and visitor centers
- Working with local businesses to develop packages that promote the area’s attractions
- Sponsoring events and festivals that attract visitors to the area
- Promoting sustainable tourism practices that protect natural resources while still allowing visitors to enjoy them.
The Role of State and Local Governments
While Visit Florida and local tourism boards are responsible for promoting tourism, state and local governments also play an important role in supporting the industry. State and local governments provide funding for infrastructure improvements such as roadways, airports, and public transportation which make it easier for tourists to travel around the state.
State and Local Government’s Key Responsibilities
Some of the key responsibilities of state and local governments include:
- Funding infrastructure improvements that support tourism such as roads, airports, public transportation, parks etc.
- Maintaining beaches, parks and other natural attractions that are important tourist destinations
- Developing regulations that ensure safe conditions for tourists such as building codes for hotels & resorts etc.
- Promoting safety measures such as beach patrols & lifeguards etc.
In conclusion,
Tourism is an important industry in Florida, and it requires a coordinated effort from multiple entities to promote and support it. Visit Florida, local tourism boards, and state and local governments all play a key role in ensuring that tourists have a positive experience when they visit the Sunshine State. By working together, these entities can continue to make Florida one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.