Last updated: 9:10 PM ET, Mon May 6, 2024
Visit Orlando, the official tourism association of Orlando, announced that the destination welcomed 6.13 million international visitors in 2023, an increase of 25% over 2022 figures. Canada remains the largest international market of Orlando, with more than 1.2 million visitors traveling to Orlando in 2023, the highest number for this market in Orlando’s history.
“We saw strong increases in all of our major international markets, particularly in Canada, which saw record numbers of visitors,” said Casandra Matej, President and CEO of Visit Orlando. “Orlando’s international growth is a testament to the uniqueness of our destination, the support of our travel industry partners and the importance we place on strategic marketing initiatives to drive attendance in our key markets. »
International visitor numbers in 2023 are 94% of pre-pandemic (2019) numbers, and Canada, the United Kingdom and Brazil remain the top three international origin markets for Orlando.
- Canada: 1,256,000 (↑ 46%) – All-time record number of visits.
- United Kingdom: 877,000 (↑ 8%)
- Brazil: 696,000 (↑ 21%)
- Mexico: 432,000 (↑ 10%)
- Colombia: 302,000 (↑ 5%)
Several factors have contributed to this significant international growth, including new direct air routes to nearly all of Orlando’s major international markets, providing visitors with more opportunities to travel to Orlando easily and affordably, as well as a more rational visa requirements in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. Visit Orlando has ramped up its marketing efforts for the “Unbelievably True” campaign, including an extensive “There’s No such thing as Winter” offensive in major international markets during the colder months to capture visitors’ attention and inspire them to explore Orlando’s unique offerings.
Visit Orlando released 2023 international visitation figures this week as part of the US Travel Association’s IPW, known as the ‘Super Bowl of the travel industry,’ which attracts travel buyers and media from more than 60 countries. Overall attendance figures will be released at the end of May, including figures for domestic tourism and group business travel.
In 2024 and beyond, the theme park capital of the world continues to expand with an exciting offering of new experiences for visitors – movie-inspired attractions, roller coasters with snowmobile-style wagons and a seaside resort luxury boasting an 8-acre crystal lagoon, among others.
NEWS IN THE AMUSEMENT PARKS
- Several new attractions will open this summer in Disney Magic Kingdom park. Tiana’s Bayou will take visitors on a musical adventure inspired by the story and beloved characters of the animated film “The Princess and the Frog”. Visitors will ride down the bayou with Princess Tiana during the Mardi Gras season, as she prepares to host a unique celebration for the people of New Orleans. THE Country Bear Musical Jamboree, a brand new show, will offer interpretations of great Disney classics, revisited through the different genres of country music. These new attractions follow the recent opening of the roller coaster TRON Lightcycle / Run. Located in Tomorrowland, this attraction is one of the fastest in a Disney theme park.
- SeaWorld Orlandowhich is celebrating its 60th anniversary, will inaugurate Penguin Trek, an immersive indoor/outdoor roller coaster that families can ride together in the spring. Visitors will ride snowmobile-inspired wagons, at a maximum speed of 70 km/h, and find themselves in the habitat of the park’s penguins. The park also unveiled a brand new look and atmosphere for its Orca Stadium this year.
- New Dreamworks Land of Universal Orlando Resort will open its doors on June 14 at Universal Studios Florida. This new family zone, inspired by DreamWorks Animation characters including Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and Trolls, will feature a family roller coaster, Trolls Trollercoaster, several interactive play areas including Shrek’s Swamp for Little Ogres, Poppy’s Playground and Po’s Kung Fu Training Camp, character meet and greet areas and live shows. The park will also offer new experiences this summer, including CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular – a new nighttime show on the lagoon which will begin on June 14 at Universal Studios Florida; Hogwarts Always – a brand new castle projection show debuting June 14 in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure; and the largest daytime parade carried out by Universal to date, Universal Mega Movie Paradewhich debuts July 3 at Universal Studios Florida.
- LEGOLAND Florida Resort inaugurated LEGO Ferrari Build & Race in March, offering visitors the chance to see a life-size LEGO Ferrari car, as well as build and test it on one of three obstacle-strewn test tracks. Young drivers can take advantage of the LEGO DUPLO building zone to design their own personalized creations with larger bricks.
Future
- In 2025, Universal Orlando Resort will unveil its new theme park concept with the opening of its most ambitious park to date: Universal Epic Universe ; an unrivaled level of immersion and innovation in theme parks – transporting guests into expansive worlds featuring more than 50 breathtaking attractions, entertainment, restaurants and shops – and transforming the award-winning resort into a vacation destination weeks filled with the most fascinating experiences imaginable.
NEW ACCOMMODATION
- Evermore Orlando Resort opened Jan. 1 and becomes Orlando’s first beach-like property, featuring an 8-acre crystal lagoon and 20-acre sandy beach with hammocks, cabanas and recreational activities. Guests can go paddleboarding as a family, take mixology classes, learn how to build sandcastles and much more. Evermore, which features the world’s first contactless sunscreen application system, is designed for large groups and families, and offers vacation homes from 2 to 11 bedrooms.
- THE Conrad Orlando, the destination’s first luxury Hilton hotel, opened on January 9 with 433 rooms, a spa, extensive dining options – including its famous rooftop terrace – and 40,000 square meters of indoor meeting spaces . Located at the Evermore Orlando Resort, the property overlooks a golf course, a two-story boathouse for private events, the Crystal Lagoon and the sandy beaches of Evermore Bay.
- Villatel Orlando Resort, located in the International Drive area, gradually opened its doors in late 2023, offering private villa rentals with amenities and hotel standards. The resort will eventually include a water park with multi-story slides and a lazy river, a fully equipped fitness center, a full-service restaurant and children’s play areas. When completed in 2025, the complex will have 526 units, including apartment-style suites and single-family homes.
- Universal Orlando Resort will add 1,500 rooms to its hotel offering, with the opening of Universal Stella Nova Resort on January 21, 2025 and Universal Terra Luna Resort on February 25, 2025. Rates for the new properties will start at $147 (per night, plus tax), based on a stay of four nights or more, and will include 750 double rooms with spaceship-shaped windows, a variety of dining options and amenities including resort-style pools, fitness centers, game rooms, recreation rooms and much more.
AWARD-WINNING RESTAURANTS BY THE MICHELIN GUIDE
- Orlando’s evolving dining scene has been recognized with one of the world’s highest culinary honors. In the third edition of Michelin Guide Miami, Orlando and Tampa, inspectors announced four new Orlando restaurants with Michelin stars for 2024.
- The Michelin Guide also recognized Orlando’s creativity, commitment to service and sustainability with three special awards: Michelin Exceptional Cocktails Award for Justin Levaughn of Otto’s High Dive ; Michelin Service Award for Israel Perez, maître d’hôtel and sommelier of Victoria & Albert’s ; and the Michelin Green Star, which recognizes exceptional sustainable catering that does not sacrifice flavor, for Kayaled by Chief Lordfer Lalicon.
- Among the 48 Orlando restaurants identified by Michelin, there are seven starred establishments, 11 Bib Gourmands and 30 recommended restaurants.
For more information on the latest in Orlando, visit VisitOrlando.com.
