DeSantis mocks NAACP ‘stunt’ urging travel advisory over racism concerns

ORANGE PARK, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis was asked to chime in on the NAACP potentially issuing a travel advisory for Florida over racism concerns.

“What a joke!” he said.

The Florida State Chapter of the NAACP reportedly unanimously voted asking the national NAACP board to issue the advisory for Florida.

“You don’t want companies to have the word diversity, equity and inclusion because it has institutional racism in their policy. You know, it takes us back. And we’ve been fighting so hard,” Hillsborough County Chapter President Yvette Lewis said.

“We’ll see how effective that is,” DeSantis said. “Just remember, during COVID, these people would be on CNN all this stuff slamming Florida saying we were so bad. ‘Don’t go to Florida,’ and then they would end up being spotted on the beach somewhere vacationing in Florida!”

“This is so ridiculous,” he said. “We’re proud to be leading the nation in tourism.”

“This is a stunt to try to do that. It’s a pure stunt, and fine, if you want to waste your time on a stunt, that’s fine. But I’m not wasting my time on your stunts. Ok? I’m going to make sure that we’re getting things done here, and we’re going to continue to make this state a great state.”

In 2022, Florida broke its all-time state record for total visitors welcomed in 2022.

DeSantis’ office said VISIT FLORIDA estimated the state welcomed 137.6 million visitors in 2022.

The record marks a 5% increase from pre-pandemic 2019 and 12.9% increase from 2021.

“People continue to make Florida their vacation destination because they know that in the Free State of Florida, they can enjoy all that we have to offer without mandates or restrictions,” DeSantis said. “Despite the federal government’s attempts to keep our economy stagnant, Florida’s freedom first approach has created an environment that attracts new visitors, fosters new businesses and drives our economy forward.” 

Florida also saw 30.1 million domestic visitors in the fourth quarter of 2022, which marked 21 months of domestic visitation growth.

In terms of overseas travelers, Florida welcomed 7 million, a 73% increase from 2021 but still below 2019’s levels. DeSantis’ office said the lack of overseas travel is “directly correlated” to the Biden administration’s “unscientific vaccine mandate.”

The state also was host to 33.2 million visitors between October and December 2022, a 6% increase since the same period in 2021.