What is Visit Orlando’s role in supporting our region’s economic health?

As the Official Tourism Association® for Orlando, we brand, market and sell the area globally as a premier leisure, convention and business destination. We represent over 1,600 member companies comprising every segment of Central Florida’s community.

How does tourism contribute to the local tax base and public services?

Tourism creates a funding stream for better schools, roads, public safety and other important government services in three ways: Property taxes fund most of the county’s general use revenue for areas such as public safety, health and social programs, children services, public transportation, parks and recreation, and infrastructure improvements. In 2024, the top 10 property tax owners in Orange County were in the tourism industry. Sales taxes also fund a variety of Orange County services and projects, including local school construction and renovation. In a typical year, visitors contribute 50% of all sales taxes collected in our county. Over the past five years, tourism-related sales tax collections have totaled more than half a billion dollars for our local schools. Tourist development taxes on overnight lodging primarily fund destination marketing and the Convention Center; in recent years, this tax has also helped grow the county’s arts, cultural and sporting venues, as well as special events.

Visit Orlando Monthly Research & Insights Orlando Economic Partnership Orlando’s Hospitality Tech Industry Drives Evolution of Guest Experience Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association Economic Impact of Tourism Orange County Government Budget and Reports Orlando International Airport OIA delivers $41B in Economic Impact U.S. Travel Association Economic Impact Map Orange County Property Appraiser Property Appraiser Dashboard Destination International National Resident Sentiment 2022 Destination Florida Destination Promotion: Empowering Florida’s Growth Orange County Convention Center Economic and Employment Impact

Tourism Benefits You | Visit Orlando

"We Visited—Now We Call Orlando Home"

Lawrence Bellido shares how what began as a family visit turned into a decision to call Orlando home thanks to its vibrant communities, thriving businesses, and the benefits tourism brings.

Tourism Benefits You Testimonial Feature - Lawrence Bellido

Tourism Powers Orange County

In Orange County alone, visitor spending offsets $10,200 per household in local taxes – meaning residents pay less because visitors contribute more. Beyond easing the tax burden, tourism fuels our community by generating local and state sales tax revenue that expands Orange County’s operating budget. This funding supports essential programs like arts and culture, schools, public safety, and infrastructure. Discover how tourism works for Orange County — and for you.

Supports 400,000 Workers

42% of our workforce, creating jobs both directly and indirectly

Generates $79.5 Billion in economic impact

driving growth for businesses and neighborhoods

Pays $24.3 Billion in wages

sustaining families and opening career opportunities

Provides $5.7 Billion in local & state tax revenue

funding vital community services and improvements

Impact of Travel FAQs

We break it into three categories: direct, indirect and induced. Direct economic value happens when visitors do things like book hotel rooms, rent cars and buy tickets to attractions. This type of spending supports jobs, wages, taxes and gross domestic product in sectors like recreation and transportation. But the impact ripples further than that. Tourism companies also purchase goods and services from other businesses, such as food wholesalers and utility suppliers. We call this indirect impact. Finally, we have employees whose wages come either directly or indirectly from tourism. When they spend those wages in the local economy, they create induced impact.

Tourism makes our region an attractive place to live, work and play. Examples include the convenience of two international airports, leading arts and sports venues, shopping, dining, and entertainment experiences from the most recognized brands in the world. Residents also have access to a large employer base, jobs that accommodate a wide spectrum of education and experience levels, professional growth opportunities, and more money in state and local tax coffers.

Tourism also supports local businesses, fosters entrepreneurship and new business ventures. Small business owners make up a majority of our local economy, many of which rely on the conventions and tourists that visit our destination. From florists to barbers, and museums to local-owned restaurants, we all benefit.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Tourism creates a funding stream for better schools, roads, public safety and other important government services in three ways:

Property taxes fund most of the county’s general use revenue for areas such as public safety, health and social programs, children services, public transportation, parks and recreation, and infrastructure improvements. In 2024, the top 10 property tax owners in Orange County were in the tourism industry.
Sales taxes also fund a variety of Orange County services and projects, including local school construction and renovation. In a typical year, visitors contribute 50% of all sales taxes collected in our county. Over the past five years, tourism-related sales tax collections have totaled more than half a billion dollars for our local schools.
Tourist development taxes on overnight lodging primarily fund destination marketing and the Convention Center; in recent years, this tax has also helped grow the county’s arts, cultural and sporting venues, as well as special events.

The tourism industry is very supportive of economic diversity for our region and believes that expanding other business sectors benefits everyone. At the same time, we also are proud that so many members of our industry are willing to continue investing in our community to help ensure ongoing prosperity. When tourism is strong, it positively impacts virtually every job sector in Orlando, which also helps strengthen economic diversity. While leisure and hospitality is our region’s largest employer, new job growth is balanced across both tourism and non-tourism industries, and together have made Orlando one of America’s fastest-growing job markets for several years.

Visit Orlando

Monthly Research & Insights

Orlando Economic Partnership

Orlando’s Hospitality Tech Industry Drives Evolution of Guest Experience

Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association

Economic Impact of Tourism

Orange County Government

Budget and Reports

Orlando International Airport

OIA delivers $41B in Economic Impact

U.S. Travel Association

Economic Impact Map

Orange County Property Appraiser

Property Appraiser Dashboard

Destination International

National Resident Sentiment 2022

Destination Florida

Destination Promotion: Empowering Florida’s Growth

Orange County Convention Center

Economic and Employment Impact

Visit Orlando News

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