Governor Ron DeSantis announced Monday that Florida has achieved a new tourism milestone, securing an all-time record 15.5% share of the domestic vacation market in 2024.
This represents an almost one-point increase from 2023, solidifying Florida’s position as the leading travel destination in the United States. This is the sixth time Florida has broken its own tourism record during Governor DeSantis’s tenure.
“Florida is the world’s favorite place to visit,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “This record tourism is a result of policies that prioritize freedom, public safety, and common sense.”
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Florida’s tourism sector also continues to perform strongly on the international front. Data for the first two months of 2025 shows:
- A 0.5% increase in Canadian air visitation, which is a positive trend compared to the national average that showed a 2.3% decline in Canadian travel to the U.S.
- A 6.5% increase in overseas visitation, with significant growth from the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Argentina.
In February 2025, Governor DeSantis reported that Florida maintained its status as the top global destination, welcoming a record-breaking 142.9 million visitors in 2024. This figure is a 1.6% increase over 2023, which previously held the record for the highest annual visitation in the state’s history.
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The fourth quarter of 2024 also reached a new record, attracting 33.1 million visitors, the highest number ever recorded for a Q4 period. This surge in tourism was fueled by 29.9 million domestic travelers, 2.5 million overseas visitors, and 742,000 Canadian tourists, demonstrating Florida’s enduring appeal in both domestic and international markets.
Florida’s tourism industry is a crucial component of the state’s economy and is considered a successful example in the global travel sector.
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