Now local tourism officials can breathe trouble-free

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

The officials of county tourism can breathe trouble-free recognizing that they won’t be cut off from the marketing assistance of the state.

In the last week, Florida House went along with a Senate offer to improve the financial support for the tourism-marketing efforts of Visit Florida.

For the upcoming 2023-2024 fiscal year, budget negotiators have decided to provide $80 million for Visit Florida. In terms of the current year scenario, it’s an increase of $30 million. The Senate had sought $80 million, as the House did not offer money for Visit Florida at first.

The director of the Citrus County Visitors Bureau, John Pricher, called this to be an important news as it depends on the state to counterbalance the expenses of marketing.

Pricher said that it’s surely a significant step that the House can perceive the value of this organization and what it’s motivating to the state in regard to job and money.

The contract between the Senate and House, negotiators stopped a proposed change in the way Visit Florida is financed. The House was pressed to take money from the 62 county tourist-development councils to cover the expenses of the tourism marketing for the state.

To the state, under that present scenario, Citrus County would have had to give 5% of its tourism tax revenue.

Pricher said that they are over excited that Visit Florida is going to carry on.

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