'Recovery underway': Tourism seeing rebound in Central Florida
The sight of millions of people getting COVID-19 shots and President Joe Biden's promise to have 200 million vaccinated in his first 100 days has moved the economy into a higher gear.
Dr. Sean Snaith, a UCF economist, says recovery is underway.
He told elected and appointed leaders on Orange County's Tourist Development Council the travel surge over the holidays proves there's pent-up demand and he expects that to increase heading into summer.
"That's an encouraging sign. The vaccine on top of that, I think will help to bolster the recovery as we move forward," Snaith said.
Snaith says unemployment last year nationally and in Florida was similar at 8.1% and 7.7%.
However, Orlando's metro area, thick with tourism and restaurant businesses, was over 10%.
This year it's projected to be under 5% across the country with Florida at 4.6% and locally at 3.8%.
"The indicators for spring break have been frankly better than expected," Director of Market Research at Visit Orlando Daryl Cronk said.
Cronk points out local hotel occupancy last week was at 66% which was better than expected.
The tourism agency's survey indicates 84% of U.S. travelers plan a vacation in the next six months. On the business side, 20 conventions have relocated to Orlando this year and a full travel return is projected by 2023.
"The availability of the vaccine and some of the signs of the recovery in the economy all seem to be fueling what looks to be a very encouraging recovery in travel," Cronk said.
To keep driving the message that the region's tourism is open for business, a $2 million dollar television ad campaign launched in January is now an $8 million dollar campaign extended through June.
As the major tourism drivers bring back visitors, businesses in Orlando's downtown and elsewhere across central Florida, are projected to rebound as well.