Orlando Tourism Appeal
With the backdrop of a large increase in 2013 global travel to the United States, Orlando continues to market itself as an international vacation destination for global visitors. With the addition of a new high tech airport kiosks, added local attractions, and attractive new transportation capabilities, Orlando and Central Florida should see continued strength as an international vacation destination.
2013 International Travel Trends Improving
The Obama administration was ecstatic with recent news announced by the US Secretary of Commerce:
- International travelers spent a record $180.7 billion in the United States on tourism related goods
- Global travelers spend more than $15 billion more in 2013 in the US than they did in 2013
These increases are at least in part to an initiative begun in 2012 by the Obama administration for a National Travel and Tourism strategy. The strategy involved making the United States a more appealing and convenient for global visitors.
Orlando and Florida has also jumped in this same game by commencing several actions to achieve these same results.
Orlando Adds 10 New High Tech Kiosks for Faster International Processing
In order to improve processing time for international arrivals, the Orlando International airport has added 10 new high tech biometric and facial imaging machines. This new technology should allow global travels to arrive directly in Orlando without the often quite painful delays associated with waiting for US Customs personnel.
It may shock many Floridians that Orlando as an international vacation destination is not in the Top 10 for direct international travel from abroad.
The top direct international destinations to Orlando along with an exemplary respective airline service include:
- London Gatwick – British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways
- Toronto and Montreal – Air Canada, Air Transat, CanJet and Westjet Airlines
- Manchester UK – Virgin Atlantic Airlines
- Panama City, Panama – Copa Airlines
- Franfurt – Lufthansa Airlines
- Sao Paulo – TAM Airlines
New Attractions and Infrastructure Appeal to International Visitors
With the continued announcements of new attractions at Walt Disney World in 2014, Central Florida continues to broaden its entertainment appeal to international travelers of all ages. Walt Disney World® has been and will continue to be the bellweather for Orlando as an international vacation destination.
Universal® and SeaWorld® Orlando have also aggressively added new and upgraded attractions for 2014 and beyond as well.
Governor Rick Scott also recently boosted support for a $200 million public/private partnership to develop a train system linking Orlando with West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. With a diversity of travel opportunities, this intrastate train system would allow Orlando to increase its overall appeal and diversity as an international vacation destination.
Orlando Vacation Homes 360 (OVH 360) continues to add customer service capabilities that appeal to international travelers. This includes a multi-lingual customer service team, and a dedicated international call line (oo-1-407-966-4144) for global visitors. OVH 360 has a talented guest services team that has an unrivaled level of local knowledge as it relates to vacation rentals in Orlando, Kissimmee, Davenport and Clermont. Book an Orlando vacation rental by “checking availability” online or by calling us with any questions at the number above.