• August 16, 2012

According to preliminary estimates, 22.1 million visitors came to Florida in the second quarter of 2012, an increase of 1.3% over the same period in 2011. Direct travel-related employment in Florida also rose 1.1% to over 1.04 million, adding 11,300 jobs since this time one year ago and representing the largest employment total since first quarter 2008, per the Visit Florida, the state's tourism organization.

Tourism and recreation taxable sales for Florida from January through May 2012 (last reported month) were $31.5 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 8.8 percent over the same period in 2011.

The organization says about 18.8 million domestic visitors came to Florida during the second quarter of 2012, representing a 0.3% increase from the same period in 2011. Florida reported a 10% increase in overseas visitors with 2.4 million in Q2 2012 compared to Q2 2011.