The number of domestic visitors to Orlando jumped 11.1 percent in 1999 to 39.1 million people.  Among domestic visitors, leisure visitation increased 12.3 percent to 30.95 million while overall business travel grew 6.9 percent to 8.18 million.  The portion of business travel comprised of convention and meeting delegates saw a 10.2 percent increase to 3.68 million.

Based on the 1999 visitation figures, an economic impact study by Hank Fishkind & Associates, Inc. revealed that visitors pumped $19.7 billion into the local economy in 1999, a $3.3 billion increase over 1998.  International visitors contributed more per visitor than any other segment, for a total of $1.9 billion, while domestic visitors infused $17.8 billion.  In addition, the tourism industry generated $138.2 million in revenue surpluses for the Orange County and City of Orlando governments and another $24.4 million for Orange County schools.

�The increase in visitation is much higher than we expected,� said William C. Peeper, president of the Orlando/Orange County CVB.  �In 1999, we saw significant expansion of hotel and motel rooms, attractions and activities.  As an industry, we are proud of the positive impact this growth brings to our economy as well as to the City of Orlando and Orange County governments and schools.  These numbers also point out the need to assure tourism growth while we all work to bolster other segments of our economy.�

The top non-Florida domestic source markets for overnight leisure visitors to Orlando in 1999 were New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Detroit, Boston, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Charlotte and Houston.  The top international visitor markets were the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Brazil and Argentina.

The increase in visitation to Central Florida between 1992 and 1999 has been dramatic, with a compound growth rate of 6.4 percent per year.  Visitor totals are expected to exceed 51 million by the year 2004 for a growth rate of 3.9 percent a year from 2000 to 2004.