“Many of the tourists in Florida have visited us from states with mandates and restrictions, to enjoy the freedoms and sense of normalcy that Florida has become renowned for, under Governor DeSantis’ leadership. So, Florida is one of the few places in the world where more people are visiting now than before the pandemic,” said Governor DeSantis’ press secretary, Christina Pushaw, in an email to Forbes. In both Q3 and Q4 of 2021, tourism in Florida exceeded the same quarters of 2019 – pre-pandemic levels.
“Last year saw the highest level of domestic tourism in the history of our state. That’s a point Florida’s governor’s team likes to make. “As with any other sensitive topic, some people may avoid Florida and others may flock there because it aligns with their beliefs,” said Jones. On the other hand, a divisive law that is repellent to one group can be can be appealing to another. “But I think people are learning that there is often a huge disconnect between what a company says and what it does with its campaign contributions.” “Companies are hoping that the public just doesn't notice they are making pro-LGBTQ statements on one hand and giving money to Republican legislators across the country with the other,” continued Niles. This is the way business has always been done in Florida.” “If you need a tax break, if you need a zoning variance, if you need some regulations tweaked, Florida has burned a reputation of being, as they like to say, very business-friendly.
“Florida has long maintained a very large and lucrative buffet of giveaways to businesses,” he said. Is Florida any different? There’s a deeply symbiotic relationship between lawmakers and businesses in the Sunshine State, said Robert Niles, founder and editor of Theme Park Insider, a 21-year-old consumer guide to theme parks. Last year, a new voting law in Georgia prompted boycotts and a widespread backlash from the state’s business community, as well as a slew of corporations around the country warning legislators not to follow suit in their states. More and more, companies based in states that propose controversial laws are expected to get off the sidelines and weigh in. They can mean cancelled sporting tournaments, relocated conferences and concerts-and these movements can gain steam over time. Tourism boycotts don’t just lead to rebooked vacations. Robert Niles, founder of Theme Park Insider There is often a huge disconnect between what a company says and what it does with its campaign contributions. “That’s more than the entire GDP of 13 states,” the report noted. “Tourism is Florida’s top economic driver,” according to a 2019 report from Visit Florida, which boasted 131 million out-of-state visitors fueling an economic injection of $97 billion into the state. If there were a to be a similar widespread movement to boycott Florida, the stakes could be sky high. In recent years, boycotts of states have seen some success in affecting change, from Mike Pence’s flip-flop in Indiana on “religious freedom” in 2015 to the partial repeal of North Carolina’s so-called “Bathroom Bill” in 2018. “This decision comes at a time when many states are actively looking for ways to create more inclusive marketing.” “Politics and divisive issues can impact travel destinations,” said Jan Louise Jones, professor of hospitality and tourism at the University of New Haven. “As diversity and inclusion are part of our core values, Royal Caribbean Group has been a leader in equality and equity for all, and we support all our LBGTQ employees and their families,” said a brief, emailed statement from Jonathan Fishman, Royal Caribbean’s Director of Corporate and Incident Communications. On its website, Celebrity Cruises touts same-sex weddings on its ships and bills itself as “the best cruise line for gay, lesbian and all LGBTQ+ guests.” But Celebrity also did not respond to Forbes’ request for comment, kicking it instead to its parent company. Universal Orlando Resort, Florida’s second largest theme park resort, did not respond to Forbes’ request for comment. Crickets, too, from Florida’s non-Disney theme parks and all the major cruise lines, which are all headquartered in Florida.