Florida has reached what Gov. Ron DeSantis has called a “historic milestone in tourism,” by gaining a 15.5% share of the domestic vacation market last year. DeSantis announced the record in a Monday press release.
Overall, a record-breaking 142.9 million visitors traveled to the Sunshine State last year.
According to the release, the new record is a more than one-point increase over 2023. It also marks the 6^th year in a row that Florida has ranked as the top vacation destination for Americans.
“Florida is the world’s favorite place to visit,” said DeSantis. “This record tourism is a result of policies that prioritize freedom, public safety, and common sense.”
Per data from Visit Florida, an estimated 33.1 million total visitors traveled to Florida in the fourth quarter of last year, a record high for a fourth quarter. Most of those (90.3%) were domestic travelers, though international visitors did increase slightly.
During the first two months of 2025, Florida also saw a 0.5% increase in Canadian air visitation. That outperformed a national trend that showed a 2.3% decline in Canadian travel to the U.S. Additionally, there was a 6.5% increase in overseas visitation, including increases from the U.K., Brazil and Argentina.
“Florida’s tourism sector remains a cornerstone of the state’s economy and a model of sustained success in the global travel industry,” said DeSantis’ office.
One large driver of tourism to Florida is the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla., which includes the Magic Kingdom Park.
“While Disney itself does not release attendance figures, the 2024 Theme Index report, cited by Magic Guides, found that annual visits to the Magic Kingdom have grown from 12.7 million in 2021 to 17.7 million in 2023,” Newsweek reported.

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