TOURISM BENEFITS YOU

As the Official Tourism Association® for Orlando, we brand, market and sell the area globally as a premier leisure, convention and business destination. We represent over 1,600 member companies comprising every segment of Central Florida’s community.

Tourism makes our region an attractive place to live, work and play. Examples include the convenience of two international airports, leading arts and sports venues, shopping, dining, and entertainment experiences from the most recognized brands in the world. Residents also have access to a large employer base, jobs that accommodate a wide spectrum of education and experience levels, professional growth opportunities, and more money in state and local tax coffers.

Tourism also supports local businesses, fosters entrepreneurship and new business ventures. Small business owners make up 95% of our local economy, many of which rely on the conventions and tourists that visit our destination. From florists to barbers, and museums to local-owned restaurants, we all benefit.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2021

Tourism creates a funding stream for better schools, roads, public safety and other important government services in three ways:

• Property taxes fund most of the county’s general use revenue for areas such as public safety, health and social programs, children services, public transportation, parks and recreation, and infrastructure improvements. In 2019, 12 of the top 15 property tax owners in Orange County were in the tourism industry.

• Sales taxes also fund a variety of Orange County services and projects, including local school construction and renovation. In a typical year, visitors contribute 50% of all sales taxes collected in our county. Over the past five years, tourism-related sales tax collections have totaled more than half a billion dollars for our local schools.

• Tourist development taxes on overnight lodging primarily fund destination marketing and the Convention Center; in recent years, this tax has also helped grow the county’s arts, cultural and sporting venues, as well as special events.

The tourism industry is very supportive of economic diversity for our region and believes that expanding other business sectors benefits everyone. At the same time, we also are proud that so many members of our industry are willing to continue investing in our community to help ensure ongoing prosperity. When tourism is strong, it positively impacts virtually every job sector in Orlando, which also helps strengthen economic diversity. While leisure and hospitality is our region’s largest employer, new job growth is balanced across both tourism and non-tourism industries, and together have made Orlando one of America’s fastest-growing job markets for several years.

Visit Orlando

• Monthly Research & Insights

Orlando Economic Partnership

• Orlando’s Hospitality Tech Industry Drives Evolution of Guest Experience

​Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association

• Economic Impact of Tourism

Orange County Government

• Budget and Reports

Orlando International Airport

• OIA delivers $41B in Economic Impact​

U.S. Travel Association

• Economic Impact Map

Orange County Property Appraiser

• 2019 Top 15 Assessed Property Owner

Destination International

• National Resident Sentiment 2022

Destination Florida

• Destination Promotion: Empowering Florida’s Growth

Orange County Convention Center

• Economic and Employment Impact