Florida’s tourism body, Visit Florida, has launched a new campaign to attract more visitors to the US state. Titled ‘Share a little sunshine’, the campaign encourages residents to share photographs, invitations and recommendations with friends and family in order for them to visit on holiday.
The campaign website lets people send their loved ones digital postcards and videos to entice them to visit. These postcards carry special offers for recipients as an incentive. As a thank you, the senders of these invites then qualify for a sweepstakes to win their own Florida holiday.
“We know that every 85 visitors create one Florida job, which means a growing tourism industry [and] equates to more jobs and a stronger economy,” said Florida governor Rick Scott. “Imagine what an impact it could have if every Floridian got involved by doing something as simple and fun as sending an invitation to their friends and family to visit the Sunshine State.”
Tourism is Florida’s number one industry and in 2010 attracted 82.6 million visitors to the state. These visitors spent $60 billion and generated 22 per cent of the state’s sales tax revenue. This, in turn, created jobs for one million people.
From theme parks in Orlando to the beaches of Miami, Florida has much to offer most holidaymakers and this campaign could likely attract more people to the state.
Chris Thompson, president and CEO of Visit Florida is very positive about the campaign: “With the help of all Floridians, Visit Florida will continue to grow our visitor numbers and achieve our vision of establishing Florida as the No 1 travel destination in the world.”
