State tourism agency Visit Florida is putting together a game plan for attracting tourists in the coming year. It held a conference call Tuesday to discuss its marketing strategy through 2021.
Staci Mellman is Visit Florida’s chief marketing officer.
“After the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Florida, which was at the beginning of March, air travel pretty much vanished, and first-quarter visitation fell an estimated 10.7 percent compared to Q1 of 2019,” Mellman said.
That downturn in visitors is the largest single-quarter reversal since the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in 2001, Mellman says. Visit Florida is anticipating more travelers to be driving in the coming year, as consumer confidence in flying has taken a significant hit from COVID-19.
But Mellman says competition with other states to attract travelers will be fierce, as she says other destinations will be fighting to maintain “their share of a smaller pie of travelers.”
“There is scientific consensus that essentially is an endorsement for Florida tourism: Outdoor activities, year-round sunshine, smart social distancing, can make for a nearly risk-free vacation experience,” Mellman said. “Florida’s great outdoors, for us, are the safe outdoors.”
The agency hopes international travelers from Mexico and Canada will fill a void in overseas travelers coming to the U.S.
