Broward County’s official tourism arm has created an accessibility tourism web page to help multicultural, LGBTQ+, seniors and visitors with special needs plan their trip to Florida.
Visit Lauderdale was motivated to launch the “Everyone Under the Sun” campaign listing hotels, attractions, theaters, beaches, and transportation providers that largely exceed travel industry standards after business declined allegedly due to the Florida legislature approving the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law.
"There's been a loss of business we’ve received from events that have traditionally come to Greater Fort Lauderdale on an annual basis for years," said Stacy Ritter, Visit Lauderdale president and CEO. "It’s also extremely concerning that event and meeting planners aren’t even sending RFPs to Florida, making it impossible to quantify what we actually lost as we don’t even have the opportunity to bid on some business."
As previously reported in the Florida Record, the law bans instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through 3rd grade.
“What is truly surprising is that we’ve gone on to pass actual laws that single out and vilify entire segments of our population who are some of our most frequent visitors and, not coincidentally, spend a great deal of money in our destination,” Ritter told the Florida Record.
Visit Lauderdale data shows a significant number of convention center bookings were cancelled after the new Florida law was passed in early 2023.
“The cancellations began almost immediately after travel advisories that were issued by respected national and international organizations specifically citing Florida’s new laws,” Ritter said. “Our local businesses, hotels, attractions and restaurants have stepped up for our campaign to show both leisure and business travelers, meeting planners, convention attendees and sports groups alike that they’re ready to welcome everyone and anyone."
After Gov. DeSantis rejected an Advanced Placement course of study about African American history in public schools, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Board of Directors advised black people against traveling to Florida.
State lawmakers also approved the Individual Freedom Act, also known as the Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (W.O.K.E.) Act, which limits instruction on racism, slavery, and sexism.
“When organizations began issuing travel advisories about Florida earlier this year, virtually all of the lost business we track cited Florida politics as the reason, specifically mentioning the “Don’t Say Gay” law, women’s reproductive freedom, immigration laws and new education standards related to African American history,” Ritter added.
A reasoned and civil conversation about the consequences of the laws that have affected tourism is much needed, according to Ritter.
“Effective leadership should seek to use the vast power of public policy to unify the public and allow the constituencies to thrive, find their American dream and work toward that more perfect union,” she said. “Toning down the rhetoric would be a good start.”