Vulnerable and Hard-to-Reach Population FACT SHEET: Tourists
This fact sheet provides information about a population in Florida that is potentially vulnerable and/or hard-to-reach before, during, and after a disaster event. Preparedness requires understanding the demographics and characteristics of these groups in order to best meet the needs of all persons.
Definitions
Tourist: someone who travels at least 50 miles from home for recreational purposes. o Visitor: someone who travels, but not necessarily for recreational reasons (e.g. business trips)
Demographics
In Florida: Tourism is Florida’s number one industry. In 2004, tourism generated $57.0 billion o 79.7 million tourists visited the state: January - March: approximately 21.5 million visitors April - June: approximately 21.7 million visitors July - September: approximately 20.0 million visitors October - December: approximately 16.5 million visitors o Tourism directly employed 912,700 Floridians.
General Information
Florida has: o 13 international airports and 53 regional and municipal airports o 3 of the world's busiest cruise ship ports (Miami, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades) 3 - 3.5 million cruise passengers per year Major cruise facilities in Tampa (one of the fastest growing cruise port in North America) o 4,753 hotels and motels with approximately 391,019 guest rooms o 35,000 restaurants with combined seating for more than 3 million patrons o 800 campgrounds with more than 100,000 campsites Facilities for recreational vehicles 5 million camping trips taken yearly Florida’s top destinations are Miami/Miami Beach, Orlando, and Tampa/Tampa Bay
Reasons for Traveling to Florida Domestic tourists: o Primary purpose: leisure (84.1%) o Major type of lodging: hotel/motel/bed and breakfast (50%) o Average length of stay: 5.1 nights Canadian visitors: o Primary purpose: holiday/vacation (69.7%) o Major type of lodging: hotels (29%)
o Average length of stay: 18.2 nights Overseas visitors: o Primary purpose: leisure/recreation/holiday (61.7%) o Major type of lodging: hotel/motel (73.4%) o Average length of stay: 12 nights
For More Information
1. 2. 3. Travel World. (2005). Travel Info: Tourism Is a Part of Traveling. Retrieved April 11, 2006, from www.traveltoworld.co.uk/tourism_traveling.htm. VISIT FLORIDA Official Media Newsroom. (2005). About VISIT FLORIDA: Research. Retrieved March 17, 2006, from http://media.visitflorida.org/about/research/. VISIT FLORIDA Official Media Newsroom. (2005). International Pages: Florida Fun Facts – Florida Information and Fast Facts. Retrieved March 17, 2006, from http://media.visitflorida.org/international/unitedkingdom/facts/.
Updated 6/26/09