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Bob Wells

Beach Fanatic
Jul 25, 2008
3,380
2,857
Speaker Oliva and I wouldn't agree on a lot, but I agree with him on this. I realize tourism is an economic engine for Florida, but I really believe those counties with TDC's would be better served marketing our area than having the State involved. Just my opinion.

from Floridapolitics.com
It’s time to quit kicking the VISIT FLORIDA can down the road.

For the last couple of years, the state’s tourism marketing arm has faced an uncertain future as lawmakers have debated whether it should even exist.
We have all watched the war rage on, with Speaker José Oliva leading the effort to end the agency. So far, Oliva has been on the winning side.
Though VISIT FLORIDA is still pitching the state as a premier tourism destination, it’s spent the last year doing so from its deathbed after lawmakers kowtowed to Oliva in the 2019 Legislative Session by slashing the agency’s funding by a third and leaving in place a July 1, 2020 expiration date.
The push to end VISIT FLORIDA has continued despite state economists warning that a downturn in tourism is the most significant risk to our economy. Government watchdogs such as Florida TaxWatch have issued the same caution.
The House has remained resolute even as the state breaks visitation records year after year, and VISIT FLORIDA produces evidence showing direct links between tourism growth and their marketing efforts.
The argument to end VISIT FLORIDA has thus far been pitched as a fiscally responsible cause, yet it’s $50 million expense amounts to a drop in the bucket in the state’s $90 billion-plus budget.
But alas, here we are with less than two weeks remaining in Session with no decision on the future of Florida’s tourism agency.
Even as the Florida Senate unanimously passed the Governor’s recommendation by approving an eight-year reauthorization for VISIT FLORIDA, Oliva hasn’t allowed any debate on the topic.
Why not? Because his hubris won’t allow it.
Sources tell Florida Politics that the Florida House is ready to keep VISIT FLORIDA’s funding at $50 million but will only move to reauthorize the agency for another year.
That was before COVID-19 showed up in Florida.
As I mentioned Sunday, when Florida Politics broke the news that the had two presumptive cases of COVID-19, this year’s Legislative Session flipped upside down.
Now, the focus of the entire state is the threat of coronavirus transmission and the potential impact on our economy and way of life.
By this time tomorrow, half the country will know about the two presumptive positives in Florida, impacting spring break plans, summer vacations, and more. VISIT FLORIDA is Florida’s only mouthpiece for fighting back and reassuring the world that our state is open for business.
The challenge brought by coronavirus should lead the House to fully embrace VISIT FLORIDA and their unique ability to positively message our state’s number one industry — tourism — and a one-year reauthorization simply won’t cut it.
What is the rationale for simply kicking the can down the road? What private business or other government agency could possibly operate under those limitations? How could members of the House argue that leaving VISIT FLORIDA in a weakened position helps our state deal with coronavirus?
This needs to end.
Representatives should tell Oliva that they support reauthorizing VISIT FLORIDA for years to come. The threat of coronavirus should give the members of the House who support keeping the agency around) the ammunition they need to tell leadership that enough is enough.
If they don’t, they’ll return home after Session to questions on why they left VISIT FLORIDA hobbled. Especially when the Governor and the entire Senate back the organization.
This presents a real liability for House Republicans because they didn’t bother to debate the issue during the last two Legislative Sessions.
Our state needs tourism, and tourism needs VISIT FLORIDA, especially when coronavirus subsides and the state is clamoring for more economic activity. The risk to our tourism-driven economy from coronavirus and other disasters is too great to put an end to VISIT FLORIDA.
It’s time to end this war, Mr. Speaker.
 

Teresa

SoWal Guide
Staff member
Nov 15, 2004
30,248
9,279
South Walton, FL
sowal.com
I think Florida needs Visit Florida. They have done excellent marketing work in tandem with our local TDCs and communities. I've always appreciated their presence and have learned about other areas of Florida, many of which I would like to visit. Tourism is everything in Florida.
 

Jim Tucker

Beach Fanatic
Jul 12, 2005
1,189
497
I think Florida needs Visit Florida. They have done excellent marketing work in tandem with our local TDCs and communities. I've always appreciated their presence and have learned about other areas of Florida, many of which I would like to visit. Tourism is everything in Florida.
The environment is everything in Florida. Unfortunately tourism is helping kill it.
 

Bob Wells

Beach Fanatic
Jul 25, 2008
3,380
2,857
I think Florida needs Visit Florida. They have done excellent marketing work in tandem with our local TDCs and communities. I've always appreciated their presence and have learned about other areas of Florida, many of which I would like to visit. Tourism is everything in Florida.
It just seems in the past the TDC was able to focus its advertising and because of that we were not as crowded compared to today. I also believe as long as tourism is the golden goose and we as a State are willing to accept it as such, we will never fully succeed in diversifying our economy. I appreciate some efforts by our county to look at a VO Tech school, but when it seems the Sheriff is doing more for the inmate population as far as giving some people hope for the future we still don't have as many positions for tradesman. Of course this is just my thinking.
 

Teresa

SoWal Guide
Staff member
Nov 15, 2004
30,248
9,279
South Walton, FL
sowal.com
It just seems in the past the TDC was able to focus its advertising and because of that we were not as crowded compared to today. I also believe as long as tourism is the golden goose and we as a State are willing to accept it as such, we will never fully succeed in diversifying our economy. I appreciate some efforts by our county to look at a VO Tech school, but when it seems the Sheriff is doing more for the inmate population as far as giving some people hope for the future we still don't have as many positions for tradesman. Of course this is just my thinking.
oh I agree, and hear you. We can do tourism and MORE! and we should. We're a baby town but growing with so much potential.
 
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