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Florida Tourism Numbers On The Rise

TAMPA (CBS4) – Despite high unemployment and post-recessionary blues, more people have visited the Sunshine State this year than last.

Visit Florida reported Tuesday that visitor numbers for the second quarter of 2011 were up 6.9 percent over the same period last year. That amounted to about 21.2 million visitors during that time.

Estimates show a 5.3 percent increase in domestic visitors, a 17.3 percent increase from the overseas market and an 18.4 percent increase in Canadian travel to Florida.

Visit Florida says tourism has been steadily regaining market share this year, outpacing the rest of the United States by more than 1 percent.

About 82.6 million people visited the state in 2010, spending more than $60 billion.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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