Orlando Welcomes Over 75 Million Visitors in 2024

Orlando, Florida, has once again proven to be a top destination, attracting more than 75 million visitors in 2024, according to local officials.

Key Highlights of Orlando’s Tourism Growth

During the recent Travel and Tourism Event hosted by Visit Orlando, key figures were unveiled. CEO Casandra Matej, Board Chair Barb Bowden, and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings announced that a total of 75,333,800 people visited the city last year, marking a nearly two percent increase from the previous year’s record.

Predicted Growth and New Attractions

Officials anticipate that this number will continue to rise in 2025, largely due to the introduction of new attractions, including the highly anticipated Epic Universe theme park.

Economic Impact of Tourism

Orlando’s thriving tourism sector contributes approximately $92.5 billion to the local economy, generating around $5.6 billion in state and local tax revenue. This growth is creating jobs at a remarkable rate, with local employment ratios standing at 1 job for every 3 visitors.

Benefits to Local Residents

Mayor Demings highlighted the benefits of tourism on local communities, stating, “The people who live here will benefit the most. The people who work here will benefit because of the countless hundreds of thousands of jobs that are represented within this industry.”

Travel Trends

Orlando is seeing an increase in both domestic and international travel, with domestic visits growing by 1.4% and international visits by 6%. Geraldinne Zeballos, a team supervisor at Magic Holidays Travel Agency, noted that summer is typically their busiest season, with clients often booking trips several months in advance.

Anticipation for Epic Universe

Zeballos mentioned that the opening of Epic Universe has sparked a surge in inquiries, with her team receiving daily calls about the new park. She expressed confidence that visitor numbers will continue to rise, stating, “Every single year we’re going to be having more and more visitors. I mean, Orlando is growing.”

Visitor Demographics

Statistics indicate that a majority of 2024’s visitors were domestic leisure travelers, accounting for 81% of the total, followed by domestic business and international visitors.