Thompson: Florida’s Neglect of Cultural Tourism Is A Missed Opportunity

Although Florida’s tourism infrastructure is relatively well developed around its natural and man-made attractions, State Senator Geraldine Thompson, running for re-election in District 12, believes the state is missing out by not seriously exploiting its cultural and heritage assets. Thompson, who spoke exclusively with West Orlando News Online also expressed her concern over the inadequate benefits derived by African Americans from tourism, notwithstanding the nearly 60 million tourists that visit Orlando annually.

“I’ve been working with Visit Florida to make the same case that, even though tourism is the number one industry in the State of Florida, it does not benefit African Americans to the extent that it does other segments of our population,” she said. “I’ve been saying to Visit Florida that there is need to highlight more of the cultural assets in the State and highlight cultural events that occur in African American communities.”

Thompson noted that while provision is made in the state budget to promote eco-tourism, space tourism and agricultural tourism, consideration has not been given to market Black cultural tourism, which has rapidly become a common practice for Baby boomers and the younger generation. She cited Memphis and Atlanta where millions had been invested to refurbish historical sites where Dr. King was assassinated and lived, and Charleston, location of the Old Slave Mart and Museum, which serves as a major tourist attraction for both domestic and international visitors.

“Florida has neglected to do that [invest in Black cultural tourism] and therefore, failed to expand tourism and capitalize on people who are interested in that kind of experience, said Thompson, who noted that Visit Florida receives $60 million from the appropriations budget for tourism marketing.

A bill – Black Cultural Tourism Enhancement Commission – that aimed to identify Black cultural sites by its members and work with Visit Florida to promote and market Black cultural tourism, failed to gain traction in the Florida Legislature.

“I think part of it is educating legislators in terms of why Black cultural tourism is important and how it could benefit the State of Florida,” she said. “I intend to bring back the bill [Black Cultural Tourism Enhancement Commission] and continue to work with my colleagues, demonstrating what other states have so successfully done.”

Founder of the Wells’ Built Museum of African American History, Thompson also made clear her grave concern over the failure to preserve Black historical sites in Orlando, even as she acknowledged there’s need to balance this with new growth and development. She lamented the fact that there are so few voices speaking out on these issues and vowed to continue her quest  “to preserve some of the evidence of our existence in this town, because it’s being obliterated.”

Thompson also discussed several other issues including, her support for increased funding for public education, why Florida’s minimum should be raised to $10.10 an hour and the wrongful Incarceration Compensation Statute, a bill she brought to the Senate and which was signed by Gov. Rick Scott last Friday.

See the full interview with Senator Geraldine Thompson here.