How Will Tourism Benefit Local Orlando Residents?

Tourism is the bedrock foundation that rests beneath the Orlando community today. Most residents know that Orlando is a serious tourism destination, but not everyone knows how tourism actually benefits local residents as well. With reports showing the increasing numbers in Orlando tourism today, locals are looking at the benefits that come with the influx of families and travelers to the region from around the world. In 2015, out-of-state visitors spent $108.8 billion and generated $11.3 billion state and local tax revenue. By 2016, the state welcomed 113 million visitors, breaking records that will probably be shattered again by the end of this year.

So how does this tourism benefit Orlando residents specifically?

Employment

Growing tourism means a mounting demand for amusement parks, entertainment venues, food, tours, points of interest, transportation, and the list goes on. This demand, therefore, results in the creation and availability of jobs to meet the demand. A decrease in tourism would lead to difficult decisions, like layoffs and shutter of businesses. Right now, visitors spending support more than 1.4 million jobs in all of Florida. That number is especially true in a city like Orlando where amusement parks and studios make up the number one tourist attractions.

Job Diversification

Tourism doesn’t just mean you have more jobs readily available at the amusement parks. What about the people who support everything else that is done for a visitor? These tourists support hotels, cleaners, drivers, management companies, restaurants, bars, etc., too. The more diverse an economy, and the stronger it is for the region. Tourism creates a ripple effect throughout dozens of industries, bringing everyone up together in a slow and organic process.

Vibrancy

Communities grow stronger through vibrant culture and new ideas. Without new visitors and innovation, a community would never be able to grow and expand. The constant tourist influx exposes Orlando to some of the best ideas from around the world, catering to collective cultures that make the city so unique and sought after today. Through tourism, Orlando is able to embody that people from around the world who excitedly buy their plane tickets to come to experience the magic that is Orlando.

Best of ALL

Tourism in a place like Orlando is predictable. It’s a steady source of income, jobs, and flow of goods and services that is predictable enough for people looking for reliable jobs and income today. With Orlando’s tourism industry on the rise, it’s only good news for local residents.