Statement By: Gil Langley, Chairman, Florida
Association of Destination Marketing Organizations
“On behalf of Florida’s destination marketing organizations, we support and endorse U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow’s presentation on tourism marketing given at today’s Senate Appropriations committee meeting. We are thankful to have an expert who has witnessed the power of travel promotion first-hand represent our industry and address Senator Latvala and his committee. Roger Dow has seen the positive results of a strong tourism marketing campaign, and he has seen immediate repercussions for states who slash tourism budgets. In the increasingly competitive travel industry, it’s more important than ever to promote the state’s and local communities’ tourism offerings to potential travelers across the globe.
Maintaining our status as a premier travel destination is critical to our local communities, which rely on tax revenue resulting from visitor spending and the jobs created for 1.4 million of our fellow Floridians.
Over the past five years alone, we have seen incredible growth in Florida’s tourism. This is a direct result of state and local tourism marketing programs and the strategic investment made in those efforts. It is imperative that we continue to attract new visitors to our great state. Visitors spend money, and that money allows Florida to reinvest into programs that benefit all citizens. We applaud Roger Dow for advocating on behalf of Florida citizens, families and businesses who are all impacted by our tourism promotion programs.”
