Summer is in full swing here in Florida, and the importance of this time of year to our economy can hardly be overstated.
In the Sunshine State, our summer season brings not only predictable increases in temperatures and heat index, but, along with them, vacationing visitors and related economic activity.
Especially in Central Florida, known for its tourist industry, we see new faces in our local stores, vehicles with out-of-state license plates on our roads, and an uptick in business for our theme parks, restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality providers.
Last year, according to Visit Florida, more than 126 million people came to our great state. Already, during the first quarter of 2019, Florida has achieved a record high of 35.7 million visitors — a 5.8% increase from the same period last year. With so much of our economy reliant on these visits, this bodes well for the remainder of 2019. And this is especially good news for the industries and their local workforce, who stand to benefit from the increase in economic activity.
The Walt Disney World Resort is a good example. Disney employs 85,000 people, making it the largest employer at a single site in the entire United States. It should be no surprise that, largely thanks to Disney and our other theme parks, Orlando was also the most visited destination in the country in 2018, with 75 million visitors.
Brevard County’s own burgeoning space industry is increasingly becoming another travel-worthy attraction. This month, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will host a number of special events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11. From music to films to a live broadcast on July 19 — which will be linked to other broadcasts, including from the National Mall in Washington — the Space Coast will welcome history, science, and space enthusiasts from around the world to enjoy these once-in-a-lifetime celebrations. Add to this the busy manifests of spectacular rocket launches this year, with SpaceX, Boeing, and United Launch Alliance each contributing impressive sights to behold, and, even in the night sky, Florida proves itself as a place that offers excitement to those fortunate enough to live or visit here.
Florida also boasts beautiful beaches, rivers, and parks. We have over 600 miles of coastline and are home to 175 state parks and 11 national parks, including a national seashore. Whether visitors enjoy fishing, boating, picnics, or exploring a new trail, our parks and natural settings provide vacation experiences to our guests that are unlike any others. Ecotourism has the added benefit of encouraging an appreciation for our natural resources and environmental treasures.
Travelers who choose Florida as the venue for their priceless summer memories not only add vibrancy to our state, but also make contributions monetarily that benefit visitors and Floridians alike, both immediately and in the long term. In the private sector, tourism dollars fuel jobs, sustain industries, and buoy Florida’s economy as a whole. In the public sector, through taxes and fees on their purchases, they assist in funding the services that residents expect our local governments to handle. Increases in tourism benefit our state’s budget.
Even to businesses that might not traditionally be considered part of the tourism sector, we can see the auxiliary benefit of more customers during key tourist seasons. Grocery stores are a good example. Publix — Florida’s top privately-held company by revenue — has over 200,000 employees and is the largest employee-owned grocery chain in the United States. Publix has 800 stores in Florida, along with eight manufacturing and nine distribution centers. When visitors to Florida shop at Publix for vacation supplies, food, and drinks, they help support the workforce of the company that was ranked number 1 on Fortune magazine’s 2019 list of best big companies to work for.