Florida’s summer travel season seems to be unaffected by the political debates that have arisen from policies implemented by its Republican legislators.
The policies of Gov. Ron DeSantis, along with other Republican legislators, has prompted civil right groups to reconsider their trips to Florida. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the L.G.B.T.Q. are all groups that have warned people to reconsider their travels to Florida. Equality Florida issued warnings to those who are coming to Florida.
Other minority groups, such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples (NAACP), have even warned that “Florida has an open hostility toward African Americans”. This is only the second travel warning in its 114 year history. The first was issued in summer 2017 after Missouri lawmakers passed legislation that rolled back state protections from discrimination.
Governor DeSantis has implemented a number of socially conservative policies, including limiting gender education and banning the teaching of Advanced Placement African American History.
Disney halted its political contributions in Florida and sued the Governor. It even scrapped a $1 Billion development in Orlando.
Florida is a tourism giant in the United States. In 2022 it had 137,6 million visitors, which was the highest number in its history. In the first quarter this year, 37.9 millions people visited.
In 2022, Orlando will be the most visited city in the United States, thanks in part to Walt Disney World(r) Resort.
Florida’s economy will support nearly 102 billion dollars and 2 million jobs in 2021.
DeSantis, and Dana Young the president and CEO Visit Florida, Florida’s official tourism promotion corporation, called the opposition against new laws as a political stunt and said it would negatively impact the hospitality professionals of Florida.
