Tracy Vaughn, Director of International Sales and Marketing, Visit Florida
St. Pete/Clearwater's Mary Haban, Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel's Lee Rose and Jessica Taylor of FLL CVB
Dr. Scott Elsbree, Florida Medical Retreat
When it comes to the Sunshine State, there are some amazing facts and figures sure to interest any Canuck. After all, this is some big love affair happening, where we are the #1 foreign market (and in fact we outnumber all European visitors put together!). So after taking in a thoroughly enjoyable breakfast – served with orange juice, natch – with a troop of visiting Floridians, I’m pleased to present some of the numbers that you might find intriguing:
$1
The value of the bills stuck to the walls of the funky resto at boat-access-only Cabbage Key in the sun-soaked Fort Myers/Sanibel Island area. Originally signed and taped there by fishermen (so they’d always have enough money for a beer on their next visit), the dollar bills have now been joined by those from thousands of tourists including celebs and Presidents, and it’s now estimated some $70,000 is part of the decor. Hmm… wonder if Canadians are nailing loonies?
5.7%
Increase in number of Canadian visits last year.
24 hr.
The amount of time it took legendary inventor, Thomas Edison, to decide to invest in property in Florida during his 1st visit. And the word Condo hadn’t even been invented!
$50
Cost per person of lunching with an Astronaut on Florida’s Space Coast. Oooh! I love a man in uniform!
1513
Date of 1st tourist to visit Florida, one Ponce de Leon. Wonder if he was wearing pastel slacks?
5,200
Number of restaurants in Orlando including the world’s largest McDonalds. You want fries with that?
500,000
The number of annual visitors to the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg. Weird dude, unforgettable paintings.
3,278,000
The number of Canadians who visited the state last year, of which the majority flew in. Hmm… how much of that market are you getting?
