• Posted on Monday, November 17, 2008
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Summer tourism declined in Florida, statistics show

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By Douglas Hanks | Miami Herald

Florida saw a 3.2 percent drop in tourism between July and September, a stretch of time that saw record gas prices, economic turmoil and a string of hurricane scares.

The troika of vacation woes make the third-quarter report from Visit Florida a troubling though inconclusive look at how the economy is affecting the Sunshine State's top industry. Even so, there's little doubt that the current financial crisis -- which officially began with the Sept. 15 collapse of Lehman Brothers -- has kept many tourists home.

''In anticipation of more economic challenges for our nation, we will have to intensify our marketing efforts in order to sustain Florida's tourism industry,'' Richard Goldman, chairman of the tax-funded group said in a statement accompanying the Visit Florida numbers released Monday afternoon.

One good spot of news: foreign visitors increased statewide by 3 percent, while domestic visitors fell 3.8 percent. Canada tourists soared 6.9 percent.

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