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. Travel World. (2005). Travel Info: Tourism Is a Part of Traveling. Retrieved April 11, 2006, from
www.traveltoworld.co.uk/tourism_traveling.htm.
2. VISIT FLORIDA Official Media Newsroom. (2005). About VISIT FLORIDA: Research. Retrieved March 17,
2006, from http://media.visitflorida.org/about/research/.
3. 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