TALLAHASSEE, Fla.
Visit Florida, the public-private DMO for the state, could be eliminated in 2017 if a bill filed by members of the Florida House were to pass that aims to remove the budget for Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida.
On Jan. 31, Florida Gov. Rick Scott had asked the Florida Legislature for $85 million in extra funding for Enterprise Florida and $76 million to continue to support Visit Florida, according to Tampa Bay Times.
The Florida House retaliated on Feb. 2 with a bill that threatened to eliminate both agencies. The move came after Visit Florida received scrutiny for its “questionable spending” on marketing deals and efforts.
Last Friday, Feb. 3, Visit Florida President & CEO Ken Lawson released the following statement:
“At Gov. Scott's Jobs Summit in Orlando, I led a panel discussion on Visit Florida's vital role in ensuring Florida's tourism industry remains the top tax revenue and jobs producer in the state. I told the more than 500 CEOs and business leaders in the audience that I was there to tell the truth, and the truth is Visit Florida matters.
“Our work as a force multiplier to help Florida tourism businesses get exposure on a global scale—a feat they could not do on their own—is essential to the state's continued prosperity. In concert with our more than 12,000 industry partners throughout all 67 counties, over the past five years, we have grown visitor spending in the state from $87.4 billion to $108.8 billion.
“As we enter this year's legislative session, it's clear we are in for a fight. We certainly have Gov. Scott's and other key leaders' support and I assure you we are going to make our case, but we need your help.
“Here's what you can do:
- View and download the slides [U.S. Travel CEO] Roger Dow presented to the Senate Appropriations Committee that shows what can happen if public funding for tourism marketing is taken away.
- Go to TourismWorksForFlorida.org to find the contact information for your local elected officials.
- Use the points from Roger's presentation to draft an email and send it to them as both a constituent and tourism industry employee who feels that continued funding for Visit Florida's efforts to market the state to visitors is essential to all Floridians.”
The Florida Legislature will meet in a session beginning on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March. A regular session lasts for 60 calendar days and this is when further action and legislation could occur.
More information on the proposed bill is available via the Tampa Bay Times and the Palm Beach Post.
