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36 Million Tourists Have Visited Florida This Year Driving Hotel Rates Up 40%

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Whether it be the sun, sea, the eased health restrictions on the ground, the accessible location, or all the Disney culture and amusement parks, the state of Florida is booming when it comes to tourism.

Walkway to the white sand beach and lifeguard station at Siesta Key Beach near Sarasota, Florida

A report was released by the Florida government this week, revealing that the Sunshine State welcomed approximately 36 million visitors in the first three months of 2022.

And these tourist numbers are higher than they were pre-2020, indicating that Florida's popularity with travelers is at a steady incline. Here's some insight into why Florida is the latest travel trend in the US (that may be sticking around for a while).

Sarasota, Florida, USA marina and resorts skyline.

95% Of Tourists Are From Out Of State, According to Visit Florida

If US American travelers are looking for some local fun in the sun, Florida is always there.

Without having to cross any international borders, US-based tourists can hop on a flight (or drive) to one of the many popular destinations throughout Florida for beach days, outdoor adventures, and relaxation.

Hollywood Beach, Florida - July 6, 2017: The promenade along the beach lined with palm trees and resorts is a popular tourist destination in Broward County.

According to Visit Florida's recent report, 1.3 million of the visitors so far are tourists from overseas and approximately 600,000 have visited from Canada (an increase of 955% from the first quarter estimates in 2021).

These numbers mean that the rest of the tourists are US-based and out of state, making the Sunshine State a top choice when it comes to a staycation destination.

And when it comes to getting tourist numbers at pre-pandemic levels, the amount of overseas visitors seen in the first quarter of 2022 got Florida 14 percentage points closer than the rest of the country.

Hotel Rates Skyrocket For Travelers In Florida – How Long Will It Last?

One of the major impacts of Florida's tourist boom in 2022, however, is the high hotel rates that are popping up across the state.

Another interesting statistic that was revealed in the report shows that the average daily rate of a hotel stay in Florida is up 38% from 2021.

As demand for hotel stays in Florida reportedly surged and exceeded pre-2020 levels in the first three months of 2022, it resulted in the hotel occupancy rate throughout the state increasing by almost 24% compared to last year. The amount of hotel rooms sold in Florida also increased by 31.4% in the first quarter of 2022.

At this time, the high hotel prices don't seem to be directly affecting visitor numbers.

Detail close-up of typical colorful Art Deco architecture with tropical palm tree shadows in South Beach, Miami, Florida

Hotel Prices In Europe Also Surging, Reports Show

On the topic of rising hotel rates, Florida isn't the only popular tourist destination experiencing a spike in accommodation prices.

It was recently revealed that the prices of hotels across the continent of Europe are surging at record highs, even higher than they were pre-2020. As flights on routes between the US and Europe also continue to go up in price as the summer approaches, time will tell as to whether this will have a great impact on tourism throughout Europe for the summer high season this year.

New Domestic Flight Routes To Florida

With some of the most popular low-cost carriers in the United States operating out of Florida, it's no surprise that more flight routes connecting the Sunshine State to travelers from the rest of the country are ramping up and making this destination more accessible than ever before.

One of the most popular air carriers based in Florida is Spirit Airlines, which connects travelers to destinations throughout the US as well as international hot spots like Cartegena, Colombia: Panama City, Panama; and Kingston, Jamaica via major Florida airports.

However, with the report showing that enplanements in Florida rose to over 70% in the first quarter of 2022, the domestic flight prices have yet to match the increased demand.

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