Orlando is red-hot when it comes to tourism, both for leisure and business travel. This week as part of National Travel and Tourism Week, Visit Orlando reported that the city drew a record 66.1 million people in 2015, a growth of 5.5 percent from 2014, solidifying its stature as the most visited destination in the United States.
In the past 20 years, visitation to Orlando has more than doubled, with 32.4 million visitors coming to the city in 1995. Along with the increase in tourism has come lots of growth.
–Hotel inventory has grown by more than 37 percent during the past 20 years, rising to 117,000 guests rooms in 2015.
–Passengers at Orlando International Airport increased by more than 72 percent, reaching 38,809,337 in 2015
–Significant openings and expansions have reinforced Orlando as the theme park capital of the world.
Coup for Visit Orlando
“Reaching more than 66 million visitors to Orlando is an amazing accomplishment for our tourism community,” said George Aguel, president and CEO for Visit Orlando. “This new milestone and rapid growth over the past two decades is a result of having a tourism industry and community partners that are focused on growth and investment, dedication to the needs of our visitors and the global marketing and sales efforts of our Visit Orlando team and member companies.”
Visit Orlando used its record-breaking news to celebrate the 33rd annual National Travel and Tourism Week, which calls attention to what travel means to American jobs, economic growth and personal well-being. For example, in 2015, Orlando sold a record 33 million room nights, resulting in an all-time high for tourist development tax collections at $230 million for Orange County, which is the epicenter for Central Florida tourism.
“Orlando has reached yet another historic milestone with more than 66 million visitors in 2015—a significant achievement for Orlando and the U.S. travel industry,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of U.S. Travel Association. “The region’s remarkable commitment to travel and tourism—with especial kudos to Visit Orlando, its tourism community members, and the leadership of local public officials—enabled it to hit yet another visitation record.”
