Florida tourism for 2022 tops all-time state record

By Eric Daugherty

Published Feb. 15, 2023, 2:46 p.m. ET | Updated Feb. 15, 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis announces tax relief proposal in Ocala, Fla., Feb. 8, 2023. (Photo/Gov. Ron DeSantis' office)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office announced Florida has broken 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.

Additional data marks from VISIT FLORIDA include:

2 million overseas travelers in Q4 2022, a 35.5% increase from the same time in 2021.
1 million Canadian visitors in Q4 2022, an increase of 278% from the same time in 2021.
Air travelers composed 38% of Florida’s visitors.
Hotel room nights in state hotels increased by around 13% from 2021.

“We could not be more excited with the incredibly impressive record-breaking visitation seen in 2022,” Dana Young, VISIT FLORIDA president and CEO said. “Quarter after quarter, Florida continues to dominate the travel market and our competition, which could not be achieved without the hard work of our local tourism partners.”

“Florida is breaking records despite overseas visitation remaining 28 percent lower than 2019 due to heinous visa wait times and irrational mandates imposed by the federal government,” she said. “At VISIT FLORIDA, we are committed to building on this growth to ensure Florida continues to be the No. 1 vacation destination in the world.”