Florida Tourism Reassures Travelers with New Campaign: “Sun is Shining in Florida

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Visit Florida launched a fresh campaign on Monday to reassure tourists that most parts of the state are open and ready to welcome visitors after hurricanes Helene and Milton. Over the next two weeks, the tourism organization will share stunning images and videos showcasing destinations that were either unaffected or minimally impacted by the storms. The campaign, titled “Sun is Shining in Florida,” aims to encourage travelers to visit the Sunshine State.

Through a strategic push on social media and partnerships with content creators, Visit Florida will present the resilience of the state. The initiative coincides with the resumption of press trips and the annual “Gift of Florida” campaign, which promotes travel to the state as a meaningful alternative to traditional holiday gifts.

Stronger than the Storm Messaging

Alongside the broader campaign, Visit Florida has already launched organic social media efforts under the “Stronger than the Storm” tagline for local audiences, and “Florida is Resilient” messaging aimed at domestic travelers. The hurricanes caused significant damage, with Hurricane Milton making landfall on October 9 near Siesta Key as a Category 3 storm, impacting central and southern areas including Tampa and St. Petersburg. This came shortly after Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, which further intensified recovery needs.

Despite the damage, Visit Florida is conducting surveys of affected areas to determine when they can safely welcome tourists. In the meantime, Florida’s major airports, including Tampa International and Orlando International, have resumed full operations, signaling a positive step forward.

A Multimillion-Dollar Recovery Initiative

Visit Florida is preparing a multimillion-dollar recovery effort to support the hardest-hit destinations. This initiative comes at a crucial time as the tourism bureau seeks a funding increase from $80 million to $100 million from the state legislature to boost its promotional efforts. The goal is to prevent the long-term perception challenges that followed past storms, such as the impact left by Hurricane Ian in 2022, which severely affected visitation in Fort Myers.

In the second quarter of 2024, Florida welcomed a record 34.2 million visitors, up 1.7% from the previous year, demonstrating the state’s strong tourism appeal even amidst challenges. With new campaigns in motion and recovery on the horizon, Florida is ready to shine once again for travelers.

• Carnival Cruise Line Unveils Culinary Excellence at Celebration Key

• Bahamas Getaway: Northern Jet and AMORE Yacht Partner for Luxury Experience

• How 1.5 Billion USD Expansion of Tampa International Airport Will Streamline Travel for Walt Disney World Visitors?

• Get Ready for the 34th Annual American Sand Sculpting Championship at Fort Myers Beach, November 2024

• World Polo League and Global Child Partner for “Travel & Purpose” Palm Beach : What You Need to Know