It was another record-breaking year for Orlando with final 2011 visitation numbers revealing that Orlando welcomed 55.1 million visitors, up 7.2 percent from last year’s record setting 51.4 million.
“This is tremendously positive news for the destination. We have seen a strong rebound in our visitation numbers over the past two years led by increases in domestic and international travel and we continue to be optimistic about the future of the destination,” said Paul Tang, chairman of Visit Orlando. “We are known worldwide as the top family destination and we continue to be a top choice for inspiring meetings. Breaking the 55 million total visitation mark shows the strength of the Orlando brand.”
Total domestic visitation (business and leisure) accounted for 51.3 million visitors, a 7.5 percent increase over 2010 and a record for any U.S. destination; international travel totaled 3.8 million, an increase of 3.5 percent from 2010. Orlando is the first destination in the country to welcome more than 55 million visitors and remains the most visited destination in the U.S.
“Our travel and tourism industry has led the way in creating new jobs over the past two years and from these numbers you can see why,” said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs. “I commend the industry and the companies that continue to invest their time and resources to keep Orlando top of mind with potential travelers. They continue to be the backbone of our community and we are happy to support their efforts.”
