Tourism

Florida’s unemployment rate dipped to 3.2% in March, and Central Florida’s labor markets were particularly strong. Economic analyst Dr. Hank Fishkind says it appears that Central Florida’s hospitality industry recovery is finally starting to take root.

Employment rose by 689,000 in February, the unemployment rate dipped to 3.8%, and the labor force participation rate climbed. And revisions to previous months mean employment rates were even higher than first reported. Economic analyst Dr. Hank Fishkind says the news is especially positive for Central Florida, as we see our tourism sector reflected in the makeup of the job growth.

When the tribe closed some the roads to Glacier National Park, businesses worried for their future. But it worked, and with one of the nation's highest COVID-19 vaccination rates, they've reopened.

Toxic plumes of oceanic bacteria known as red tide is continuing to move up the western Florida coast, strewing thousands of dead fish on beaches.

Mark Jenkins of AAA says there’s continued optimism when it comes to air travel coming out of the Memorial Day Weekend holiday.

Officials hope the added incentive of the vaccine will attract visitors. It's part of an effort to jump start a floundering summer tourism industry that's been devastated by the pandemic.

Central Florida’s tourism-based economy is still reeling from the impacts of the pandemic, but Visit Orlando’s new CEO is optimistic about the future. Casandra Matej, who stepped into the role in February, joins Intersection to discuss where Orlando’s tourism economy is headed in 2021.

Hollywood Studios is booked through March.

Comptroller Phil Diamond says the $7,678,00 dollars collected in January represent the least they've collected that month since 2002.

Orlando’s tourism industry supports 41 percent of the local workforce and generates 75.2 billion dollars in economic impact a year.