By Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix
Tourists flocked to Florida in record numbers in 2023, the governor’s office announced Tuesday.
Nearly 157 million out-of-state visitors came to here, a 1.4% increase from 2022, according to a Rockport Analytics report commissioned by Visit Florida.
According to the report, visitors spent $131 billion, an increase of 4.9% from 2022. Nearly $38 billion of that total was spent on lodging, while $33.5 billion was spent on food and beverages, the rest on transportation, shopping, entertainment, and recreation.
Visitors initiated $36.9 billion in taxes, including federal taxes worth $19.8 billion, state taxes at $8.5 billion, and local at $8.6…
