Richard was the keynote speaker alongside Governor Charlie Crist at the 42nd Annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Miami Beach last month. Several business, state, and regional officials turned out to discuss the future of Florida. According to Visit Florida, “Tourism is one of Florida’s top industries. In 2007, approximately 84.5 million visitors to Florida generated $65.5 billion in taxable sales, $3.9 billion in state taxes, and employed 991,300 Florida residents.”
What are your thoughts on Florida tourism given the state of the economy?
Governor Charlie Crist
Richard Florida Keynote address at the 42nd Annual Governor's Conference on Tourism
State Representative Joe Gibbons
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:15 pm
I don’t know about tourism, but man is it a good time to buy Florida real estate. My old man is looking for a place to retire, and he’s sent me some listings to show me what he’s looking at. Unbelievable what you can get for your money.
For those not looking for a cheap place to live ’til you die
… I don’t know.
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:57 pm
So, who had the darker tan? Richard or the Governor??
September 3rd, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Buzzcut,
Do you think it’s reached the bottom?
September 10th, 2009 at 8:54 am
I have been going to the Visit Florida Governor’s Conference for well over a decade and have never come away so inspired and charged up as this one thanks to Richard Florida. Over the years we have heard the same tired speakers sighting their research that says people travel because they believe it is their “given right”. I am tired of hearing that we need to extend their stays by offering bargains and discounts. My branding and marketing has shown differently.
Richard “Creative Class theory” spoke directly to my creative marketing sensibilities. People travel because they need to – to be inspired, to expand their world, to be more diverse, to get out of their routines, to be more CREATIVE. The leisure destinations in Florida are doing great! They will continue to do great because Florida has so much to offer…. even beyond the beaches. The diversity in cultures around the state, the fresh food, the museums and attractions, year round activities, and even the tourist eccentric attitude of of the residents will keep our economy afloat.
November 27th, 2009 at 8:01 am
[...] 2009 at 8:00am ESTFlorida Tourism – A Double-Edged Sword In her September 3 blog post, “Creative Florida”, Rana Florida asked for thoughts about Florida tourism. As a resident of St. Petersburg, Florida, I [...]