Canadians still #1 in Florida

Canada remained Florida’s number one international market for 2012, delivering a 7.3% increase over 2011 in Canadian visitors to the Sunshine State. Preliminary figures indicate 3,562,000 Canadians visited Florida in 2012, up from 3,278,000 in 2011. In 2012, about 1,878,000 Canadians flew to various parts of the state and another 1,583,000 drove to Florida. Preliminary data from Smith Travel Research indicates Florida tourism has been steadily regaining market share since January 2012, outpacing the rest of the US by more than 0.3 percentage points. “With over 10% of all Canadians travelling to Florida last year, we are exceedingly grateful for the loyalty of our friends and family to the north,”said Glenn Hastings, chairman of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors and executive director of the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council. (http://www.VISITFLORIDA.com)