UF00083645_00010.pdf

UF00083645_00010.txt

UF00083645_00010_pdf.txt

"Your Government" -- #18 FROM: Governor's Office
By: Farris Bryant Tallahassee, Florida

Governor of Florida
A PREDICTION ON TOURISM IN FLORIDA

Florida will continue to gain in the number of tourists coming to
visit us. That's the good news we have from the Florida DeveIOpment
Commission, the agency that has done so much to bring them here and
is in a position to know.

Basing their estimates on the tremendous gain in tourists that
we have experienced during the past four years of our administration,
the Development Commission predicts that we will have 15 million
tourist annually in 1965.

Although all figures, naturally, are not complete for 1963, we
expect to have 1h.5 million visitors by the end of this year. This
shows a healthy gain or at least 300,000 tourists over the previous
year...snd this despite the stiff competition we had from the New York
World's Fair.

This past summer, for instance, all previous records were braken
at Florida's eight Welcome stations, located on the main highways
coming into the state. Hora visitors stopped to drink a free glass
or orange Juice and obtain information at these stations from June
through September than during any previous period. Almost 200,000 more
visitors were counted at the Welcome Stations during June, July,
August, and September of this year than stopped last year.

The increased number of visitors this fall also paints an
optimistic picture for our winter season. Tourists seem to be coming
earlier this year. Already there's been enough cold weather up North
for people to start thinking of Florida with nostalgia.

Than, too, the Kiplinger Newsletter, known for its accurate
reports and predictions, has stated that Florida will have a "terrific
winter." It bases its surmise on the economic boom this nation is
now enjoying and also on the fact that more tourist facilities are
being deveIOped in Florida in the areas where visitors normally stay.

Still another big boon to the state in bringing more tourists is
the new interstate highway system, linking Florida with all parts of
the nation. These easier routes of travel will lure more and more
motorists as they are completed. By 1970 -- when most or these
highways are open to traffic .- Florida should be attracting more than
20 million visitors annually.

Although Florida will reap benefits from the interstate system
and will always be in a favored position because of its ideal climate
and natural attributes, we should not relax our efforts in attracting
tourist. We face competition from our Caribbean neighbors and also
from our sister states.

To meet this competition, all of us should strive to improve our
facilities for tourist, deveIOp more attractions and continue the
courtesy campaign emphasized by this administration.

In our promotion or the state, we should realize that new areas
now are open to us for attracting tourist. Just this summer, the
miracle Strip resorts from Pensacola to Panama City noticed a great
influx of visitors from Texas. The people there have heard about the
excellent beaches of this area and are choosing it for their vacations.
Although Texas has not been included in our advertising efforts to a
great extent previously, now a promotion campaign is being directed
there to bring even more visitors.

And so it will be in other areas of the country. New highways
and more money to spend will entice visitors from every section or this
land. All we need to do is to continue to expand our promotion program
and get Florida's message across to this larger audience.

With all of us working together, there's no reason why Florida
cannot be, even more than it is today, the vacationland of the nation
or even the world.




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