DeSantis Brags of Florida Being #1 in Tourism, Domestic Migration, Higher Education: ‘#1 in Freedom’
June 8, 2022 Updated 9:16 A.M. ET
TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis boasted on social media of Florida ranking number 1 in various categories ranging from tourism to higher education.
In a graphic posted on Twitter, Florida is shown to be #1 in foreign tourism, domestic migration, higher education, and beaches.
“Florida is #1 in Freedom,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis notes Florida’s low tax burdens and the absence of a state income tax.
Despite Florida’s lack of an income tax, it has a $20 billion state budget surplus, the biggest in its history.
He also boasts of “world class infrastructure” across the Sunshine State.
FL Sees Highest Level of Domestic Tourism Ever in 2021
In 2021, Florida recorded almost 120 million domestic tourists, the highest ever recorded in the state.
Florida has long surpassed its pre-pandemic levels of tourism, while blue New York City is not expected to recover until 2024.
“Economists originally projected that Florida tourism wouldn’t fully recover until 2024, but quarter after quarter, despite the Biden administration’s utter failure to manage inflation and the nation’s supply chain woes, Florida’s visitation numbers continue to break records and defy conventional wisdom,” DeSantis said.
Last month, New York City entered a “high” COVID-19 alert level, drawing mocking from DeSantis’ press secretary Christina Pushaw, who said people “crave normalcy.”
“People everywhere crave normalcy, so it’s not surprising that so many New Yorkers have moved to Florida over the past two years, but we hope all the lockdown politicians will realize how destructive their policies have been before it’s too late for the city to ever recover,” she said.
NYC officials asked residents to use face masks indoors and outside in crowded areas after hitting a certain benchmark of hospitalizations – 10 new admissions per 100,000. The city also requires people provide proof of the COVID-19 vaccine in order to enter businesses.
Republicans in Florida have strengthened their foothold since DeSantis narrowly won is 2018 election by razor thin margins, with Republicans now nearly leading Democrats by almost 150,000 voters.
