Funding for Visit Florida

Public funding for VISIT FLORIDA so that Florida’s tourism industry can produce jobs, sales tax revenue, fuel taxes and economic growth into our state economy. FADMO supports funding VISIT FLORIDA at $62.5 million to enable it to accomplish the organization’s strategic plan endorsed by the tourism industry.

Legal Uses of Tourist Development Tax

The FADMO is against the expansion of the legal uses of Tourist Development Taxes for purposes other than tourism marketing. The FADMO supports preserving the current uses of Tourist Development Taxes and opposes any expansion of those uses outside of tourism marketing activities.

Internet Retailer Tax Exemption

The sale of discounted hotel rooms over the Internet by Internet intermediaries, such as Priceline.com and Expedia.com, has skyrocketed in the last decade. As a result, both state and local governments are losing significant amounts of revenue due to the way internet intermediaries choose to calculate the taxable amount of their hotel room transactions. State of Florida sales tax laws should be clarified to state that taxes shall be collected based upon "the total consideration charged and collected from the guest for the hotel room.” The FADMO estimates that the state is losing at least $37 million annually in unpaid sales and Tourist Development Taxes. The FADMO supports collecting tax on the full amount charged to the guest staying in the room.

Immigration Reform

Florida lawmakers are considering enacting Arizona-type immigration reform in Florida. As travel and tourism marketers we strive to remove as many obstacles as possible for meeting planners consider making Florida the destination for their conference or tradeshow. Meeting planners are focused on hosting their events in locations which will draw the greatest possible number of attendees. If a meeting planner is concerned a segment of his or her potential attendees will be less likely to travel to Florida because of a new immigration reform law, our state could lose business in a highly competitive market.

Florida Springs Protections

Many of Florida’s springs have suffered damage from high nitrites. Scientists believe the proliferation of septic tanks in spring recharge basins is a leading contributor to high nitrite levels in springs. To ensure septic tanks are working properly the 2010 legislature passed a law requiring homeowners with septic tanks to have professional inspections every 5 years and replace or repair their septic tank if it isn’t working properly. The FADMO supports practices that will reduce nitrogen and phosphorous levels that affect the health of Florida’s springs. FADMO recognizes the springs as important natural resources comparable to Florida’s beaches, and supports possible financial incentives for groups that take steps to keep these natural resources clean.

Amendments Attacking County Tourism Promotors

Rep. Jason Brodeur and Rep. Matt Gaetz sponsored amendments to the internet retailer bill which would have been punitive to county tourism promotion agencies. It’s important to educate these legislators that while we may disagree on one issue, county tourism promotion agencies bring customers and the jobs those customers generate to businesses within their districts and throughout the state.