Florida’s tourism industry is vital to the state’s economy. The industry has a major impact on businesses in various sectors of Florida’s economy, as well as on the revenue provided by the state’s sales and business taxes.

According to the U.S. Travel Association, the travel industry was responsible for more than 826,000 jobs in 2013, or nearly 13 percent of the private industry employment in the state of Florida. These employment numbers ranked second in the nation, trailing only California. Understanding that tourism has such a positive impact on the state of Florida, the question becomes how does Florida best capitalize on our standing as a premier tourist destination?

One area that Florida can target is international tourism. With the recovery of the world economy, international travel across the world is reaching record highs. This, coupled with data showing the major positive impact international tourists have on economies, provides evidence that Florida should expand its efforts when it comes to attracting foreign visitors to the state.