Visits included 32.2 million domestic visitors, 2.2 million foreign visitors and 666,000 Canadian visitors. In addition, Florida continues to break annual visitation records with 105.2 million visitors so far in 2023, 724,000 more visitors than in the first nine months of 2022.
"Florida continues to set visitation records because of our commitment to allowing visitors to enjoy their travels without arbitrary government restrictions," said Governor Ron DeSantis. "Florida will continue to be a beacon of freedom for travelers."
"VISIT FLORIDA's efforts, along with local tourism partners, do more than highlight the unparalleled beauty of the Sunshine State, but have also driven growth in visitation from global travelers," said Dana Young, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA. “Due to the visionary leadership of Governor DeSantis, whose Freedom First policies led our state to record visitor numbers in the past, Florida has secured a new normal with a high tourism market share, especially international tourism.”
Highlights from the latest VISIT FLORIDA visitation estimates include:
It is estimated that 35.1 million visitors traveled to Florida in the third quarter of 2023, which represents an increase of 1.6% compared to the same period in 2022 and 8.0% more than in the same period in 2019.
Florida has welcomed a total of 105.2 million visitors in the first three quarters of 2023, with 96.4 million domestic visitors, 6.0 million foreign visitors.
Travel spending in Florida is up 11.3 percent compared to the third quarter of 2019, while in the United States as a whole it is only up 3.9 percent. Additionally, Florida continues to outperform our competition, with travel spending in California and New York down 3.2% and 1.2%, respectively.
It is estimated that in the third quarter the number of national visitors amounted to 32.2 million, foreigners 2.2 million and Canadians 666,000.
The number of foreign and Canadian visitors in CY 2023 increased by 19.3 percent and 60.3 percent respectively compared to the same period in 2022. The total percentage increase of all visitors stands at 0.7% compared to the same period in 2022. the first nine months of 2022.
Domestic visitors accounted for 91.8% of visitors in the third quarter of 2023, while foreigners were 6.3% and Canadians 1.9%.
The recovery rate of air visits in Mexico in 2022 was 90% and in 2023 it was 104%.
During Q3 of 2019, Florida had 137,000 visitors from Mexico by air, during 2022, in that same quarter, the recovery was at 120,000, a low number that was not fully recovered. It was during 2023 that previous numbers were exceeded, having 140,000 visitors by air.