Orlando Breaks Tourism Record in 2017
If it feels like your city’s population doubled or even tripled overnight, the feeling’s mutual. And, it’s not all in your head. In 2017, Orlando became the country’s tourism capital breaking 72 million tourists. The previous year, about 68 million traveled to all of Florida. In comparison, NYC received 62.8 million visitors last year. With its range of attractions for people of all ages and its developing status as one of the state’s most culturally diverse cities, Orlando has built a reputation that extends far beyond its theme parks.
Orlando Becomes Tourist Mecca
Despite setbacks from Hurricane Imra, 20 new attractions opened in Orlando last year, drawing millions of visitors worldwide. Walt Disney World unleashed Pandora: World of Avatar which boasts a new ride, while Universal Orlando Resort opened a new water park.
Theme parks were not the only attractions bring in guests. The city attracted national headlines for its up-and-coming recreation outside of the parks. Orlando hosted the NFL’s Pro Bowl game for the first time at Camping World Stadium. Its wide range of top restaurants and accommodations has received attention from a broader range of tourists. Visit Orlando’s CEO, George Aguel, called the new record a “historic milestone for the community.”
According to Visit Orlando, the company behind Orlando’s tourism marketing, the city has added 112 restaurants, resorts, and other highlights in just the past five years. Tourism is having a positive impact on the city’s economy and has helped the unemployment rate drop to its lowest in over ten years. Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, called Orlando “a leader in the U.S. travel industry.”
What Does this Mean for Locals?
Locals can enjoy the fruits of a more robust economy along with the perks of living in one of the most-visited cities in the world. However, cities with high rates of tourism are often vulnerable to higher rates of crime and accidents. The more people who visit Orlando’s top attractions, the more theme park accidents can occur. Likewise, travelers who are unfamiliar with local traffic are more likely to get into car accidents, requiring the personalized attention of a car accident lawyer in the area.
Travelers to Orlando should know that in the event of a personal injury accident, there is one law firm they can count on to stand up for them in their time of need. The Umansky Law Firm has decades of experience helping locals and tourists alike recover the most compensation possible for their injuries after a severe accident. If you have sustained an injury at one of Orlando’s many theme parks or resorts, or have been a victim of a car, truck, or public transportation accident in the Orlando-area, call our office for a free consultation. We’re available 24/7 to help you get on the path to recovery.
