Visit Orlando announced an increase of 25% year-over-year international visitation growth in 2023.
The Orlando destination welcomed 6.13 million international visitors in 2023, an increase of 25% over 2022 numbers. The 2023 international visitation numbers represent 94% of pre-pandemic (2019) levels.
“We saw strong gains from all of our core international markets, particularly from Canada, which brought in record-breaking visitation numbers,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO for Visit Orlando. “Orlando’s international growth is a testament to the uniqueness of our unbelievably real destination, the support from our travel trade partners and our emphasis on strategic marketing initiatives to help drive visitation from our key markets.”
Canada remains Orlando’s top international market, with more than 1.2 million visitors traveling to Orlando in 2023, the highest number from this market in Orlando’s history. From Disney to Universal Orlando to SeaWorld and even to the Orange County Convention Center, there’s plenty to attract visitors to travel to Central Florida.
Canada, the U.K. and Brazil remaining the top three international origin markets to Orlando:
- Canada: 1,256,000 (up 46%) – all-time record-breaking visitation number
- United Kingdom: 877,000 (up 8%)
- Brazil: 696,000 (up 21%)
- Mexico: 432,000 (up 10%)
- Colombia: 302,000 (up 5%)
Contributing to this significant international growth were a variety of factors, including new direct airlift in nearly all of Orlando’s top international markets, giving visitors more opportunities to get to Orlando easily and affordably, along with a more streamlined visa process in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. Visit Orlando expanded on its robust “Unbelievably Real” marketing campaign efforts, including a widespread “Winter Doesn’t Exist” campaign in key international markets during the colder months, further driving awareness and increasing desire for visitors to explore Orlando’s unique offerings.
Governor Ron DeSantis announced that tourism to Florida has reached unprecedented levels, solidifying Florida’s status as the premier destination for travelers worldwide.
Visit Orlando shared 2023 international visitation figures as part of U.S. Travel Association’s IPW, known as the “Super Bowl of the travel industry,” attracting travel buyers and media from more than 60 countries.
Greater Orlando – the “Theme Park Capital of the World” – is the most visited destination in the United States. Visit Orlando represents more than 1,300 member companies comprising every segment of Central Florida’s tourism community.
