What? Tourism not down?

[WEDWAY100]

Here is the entire text of an article in the Tampa Tribune today. It is part of the Business Briefs section, which is why it is so short:

Record Year For Visits
An estimated 75.5 million people visited Florida in 2002, 8 percent more than in 2001 and 4 percent more than 2000, the previous record year for visitors, the state's tourism marketing firm reported. Forty-nine percent of the visitors arrived on airlines, Visit Florida reported.

Interesting, huh? And all this time, I though people weren't travelling to Florida because of the economy and the impending war with Iraq. They are travelling to Florida, they just aren't going to Disney World.

Here is the link:
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGA5IC6HFCD.html

 

[dzneelvr]

WDW is an expensive trip. In this economy, folks will be looking for bargains. No matter how many million travel to the state, they'll be spending their money where they get the most bang.
Disney will have to take that into account.

My money is on the coastal areas. they are building those up and into great vacation spots. Sun and ocean--what could be better to those of us buried under snow for most of the winter.

 

[crusader]

And all this time, I though people weren't travelling to Florida because of the economy and the impending war with Iraq.

I wonder how many of these "people" were affiliated with politicians.

 

[nats]

It's hard to believe that tourism is up after 911. It might be an advertising ploy to make people want to travel

 

[mitros]

Exactly!

 

[daber]

Just got back from WDW and MK was packed on Monday and Tuesday.

 

[perdidobay]

It's not a ploy, tourism is up in Florida...there are other places besides WDW there. My condo (on the beach)has been booked up like crazy in the last year. Drive to destinations are doing booming business. For the first time ever in the last 18 years, our condo complex (182 units, half are rentals) was booked solid for Labor Day. That's the off season there!!

 

[Galahad]

It's a bit deceptive though. Numbers of visitors are up. Length of stay, $$ spent and distance from whence the came are all down. Clearwater folks are complaining about the small crowds, usually much larger for spring break than they are this year, for example.