ORLANDO, Fla. – Tourist development tax collections for Orange County fell again in November year-over-year, marking the seventh decrease in revenue in the last eight months, according to the Orange County comptroller and Visit Orlando.
The county collected $29,685,100 in tourist taxes in November, a decrease of 4% compared to November 2022.
Recommended Videos
Collections in November were slightly higher than they were in October 2023, by $285,000.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
Between April and November 2023, every month saw a decrease in TDT collections compared to 2022 except one — September, which was up by 0.8%.
Comptroller Phil Diamond said that for the fiscal year to date, collections were down by $3.2 million, or 5.2%.
Metro Orlando hotel occupancy was also down compared to 2022, at 69.8%, and the average daily rate for Orlando hotels was $180.44, down 4.2% year-over-year.
“2022 was an extraordinary year for Central Florida tourism after the pandemic,” Diamond told News 6. “There was extraordinary demand to travel, and much of this came to Orange County. After that record year, it’s just not surprising that there would be a decline in Orange County tourism.”
Meanwhile, Visit Orlando, the convention and visitors bureau for Orange County, says room night bookings for 2024 are pacing higher than last year at 5%, and advance airline ticket sales into Orlando were also up in the first quarter of 2024 at 10%.
Tourism development taxes are charged on bookings of hotels and other lodgings. The county adds the 6% tax onto lodging bills.
By state law, tourism development tax funds must be used toward the promotion of tourism for a county and on tourism-related facilities, such as the Orange County Convention Center.
The collections report for December will be released in February.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: