The new omicron variant of the coronavirus will slow, at least temporarily, the pace of tourism resurgence in Florida, especially the return of international visitors.
Members of the state’s Economic Estimating Conference agreed Monday to slightly lower expectations through mid-2022 for Canadian and foreign travelers as the panel looked at various aspects of Florida’s economy, Biz Journals reported .
“In the short term, I think, yeah, the omicrono and all of that could have some dampening effect , “ said Holger Ciupalo, policy coordinator for the governor’s Office of Policy and Budget.
Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research, said she hopes the highly contagious variant will affect people’s decision to travel to and from Florida.
“I think Omicron has changed the environment,” Baker said. “I know of two people who were planning to travel abroad. They canceled their trips because of omicron, not knowing what additional blocking restrictions (there would be) if they got anywhere. Would your country be open? What happens in the United States? What would be the requirements for them to be?
The state’s tourism industry exceeded expectations in the third quarter of 2021, attracting 32.6 million visitors, which was 2 million more than expected at the beginning of the year and 0.3% above the global number of visitors. in the third quarter of 2019 – before the pandemic started.
Third quarter totals followed the 31.7 million second quarter visitors, which was a 16.3% improvement over the first quarter and 2.2% below the second quarter of 2019.
Still, the overall forecast for Florida’s tourism industry remains positive.
https://miamidiario.com/turismo-podria-verse-seriamente-afectado-por-llegada-de-omicron-a-florida/
