TALLAHASSEE, FL —******* attracted some 24 million visitors during the second quarter, according to Visit *******’s preliminary estimates released by Governor Rick Scott.

This figure, which included 1.0 million Canadians, is an increase of 3.0% over the same period in 2013. This represents the largest second quarter for visitation ******* has ever experienced, exceeding the previous high of 23.3 million in Q2 2013.

Visitor spending is up 7.4% in January through May 2014, at $35.7 billion, which is more than the same time period in 2013.

Governor Scott said, “A thriving tourism industry is vital to growing jobs, and today’s report that ******* has experienced another record quarter for visitation is great news for ******* families. This year we invested $74 million into Visit *******, and set a goal to have 100 million visitors visit the Sunshine State, which we are well on our way to reaching. Together we are creating an opportunity economy, and continuing to grow more jobs for Floridians with more than 1.1 million individuals employed in the growing tourism industry.”

The average number of direct travel-related jobs in Q2 2014 was also a record high, with 1,151,400 Floridians employed in the tourism industry – an increase of 3.9% or 43,600 jobs from the same period in 2013. Visit ******* estimates that 2.8 million overseas visitors and 1.0 million Canadians came to ******* in Q2 2014, both of which are record highs and represent 6.2% and 1.6% increases over Q2 2013 respectively.

Estimates reflect a 2.6% increase in domestic visitors to ******* in Q2 2014 and show that Floridians took just over 3.7 million in-state pleasure trips during the second quarter.

“Experiencing the largest second quarter for tourism in our state’s history, including a record number of tourism-related jobs, proves that this industry continues to be a vital force in *******,” said Andrew Hertz, Chair of the Visit ******* Board of Directors.  “These records also emphasize the power of tourism as a way to sustain *******’s economic growth.”

Tourism and recreation taxable sales for ******* grew year-over-year for January-May 2014 (last reported month), representing a 7.4% increase over the same period in 2013. Bed Tax also increased year-over-year for January-April 2014 (last reported month), representing a 10.1% jump over the same period last year. Other indicators were up for Q2 2014 as well, with the average daily room rate (ADR) rising 7.0%, the occupancy rate for ******* hotels increasing 4.8% and the demand in rooms sold growing 5.5% compared to quarter two 2013.

“******* tourism is maintaining strong momentum with all indicators up across the board for the quarter,” said Will Seccombe, President and CEO of Visit *******. “With occupancy, rooms sold, average daily room rate and tourism and recreation taxable sales all continuing to climb, we are well on our way to making ******* the No. 1 travel destination in the *****.”