Lawmakers vote to extend Visit Florida until 2028

Florida’s taxpayer-supported tourism marketing agency can plan campaigns for the next six years under a bill heading to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The Senate on Tuesday voted 36-3 to go along with a House proposal to extend Visit Florida’s authorization to operate until Oct. 1, 2028. Under current law, Visit Florida would be repealed Oct. 1, 2023, without an extension, and the Senate had previously sought to move the date to Oct. 1, 2031.

Tourism industry officials from various parts of the state issued statements Tuesday praising the extension.

“As a vital economic driver to the prosperity of Florida’s residents we are pleased that the Florida Legislature understands the importance of tourism, especially after the turmoil of the past few years,” said Santiago Carrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay.

Visit Florida has faced opposition from House leaders in recent years and at one point was slated to be eliminated on Oct. 1, 2020. That came in the face of questions about spending that included a $1 million market agreement with Miami rapper Pitbull to promote Florida in social media posts, at his concerts and in a music video called “Sexy Beaches.”

The conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity-Florida has for years disparaged funding for Visit Florida as “corporate welfare.”