Source: WGCU Southwest Florida
By Blaise Gainey
March 25, 2019
For years the Florida legislature has funded Visit Florida – a group charged with advertising and marketing tourism for the state. It works overseas, and around the country and also keeps track of the state’s tourism numbers. Now the agency is set to dissolve in October unless the legislature decides to keep it going.
But both chambers are at odds on whether it’s needed.
Visit Florida is a private/public corporation that works to bring tourists to the state. Some people are questioning why Florida needs to be advertised when it has beaches, theme parks, and nearly every professional sport. Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, who has also been a part of Visit Florida’s Board since it was formed, says those places do a fine job of advertising for themselves, but those aren’t the places Visit Florida focuses on.
