By Jim Carchidi
July 30, 2026
Central Florida tourism generated a record-breaking $98.6 billion
The findings were announced during a July 30 virtual press conference hosted by Visit Orlando. The organization commissioned the study in partnership with Experience Kissimmee, Seminole County, and the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association at a cost of $76,000.
Breakdowns
Tourism Economics President Adam Sacks said the study followed the ripple effect of visitor spending and its flow throughout the economy. "All that visitor spending then generates additional rounds of impact through the supply chain, through incomes that are getting spent locally."
Sacks explained the $98.6 billion impact was the combined total of direct spending by visitors, indirect spending by tourism-based businesses on the local supply chain, and induced spending - or spending from household incomes generated by visitor spending.
Indirect and induced spending in 2025 totaled $35.7 billion while direct visitor spending totaled $62.9 billion. Direct spending increased 5% over 2024 and equates to about $172 million in visitor spending per day.
A chart by Visit Orlando shows the areas of direct visitor spending and the 2025 percentages in each sector.
Of the total visitor spending across the tri-county region in 2025, 85% was spent in Orange County, 12% in Osceola County and 3% in Seminole County.
Benefits
"Visitor spending and activity fueled our economy, generating significant benefits to residents and businesses while also producing substantial tax revenue," said Visit Orlando President and CEO Casandra Matej during the press conference.
The study found $7.1 billion in tourism-related taxes was collected from 2025 earnings. The amount offset approximately $7,690 in annual taxes per household for all three Central Florida counties.
About 7% of the tourism-related taxes went toward the Tourism Development Tax, meant for reinvestment into the tourism industry.
Additionally, 37% of the region's jobs are sustained through visitor spending. As with the economic impact total, the jobs breakdown includes those created by direct, indirect, and induced spending. The breakdown is as follows:
Image courtesy of Visit Orlando
Investing in the future
The report reinforces Orlando's standing in the tourism industry. While not able to quote figures from other cities, Sacks said Orlando ranked within the top 5 national visitor economies.
"It's one of the largest destinations in the country, whether you measure by visits or economic impact," he said. "It's been one of the most successful in terms of growth over the past decade, and particularly over the last five years."
To that end, local destinations are preparing to debut more additions as other organizations vie for a share of the taxes generated by the industry.
The success of Universal Epic Universe was followed up with the announcement of the Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift coaster at Universal Studios Orlando. And the resort is preparing for the Aug. 28 opening of Halloween Horror Nights.
Meanwhile, Walt Disney World Resort is in the midst of its Cool Kids Summer and preparing for its own seasonal celebrations with the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival and resort-wide holiday parties and events.
Orlando Venues and Florida Citrus Sports are preparing for the 2027 residency of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars with $400 million in renovations to Camping World Stadium. The project was funded by a 2024 allocation from the Orange County Tourist Development Tax and includes a $61 million events center, currently in the design phase. Florida Citrus Sports also presented a proposal for a new parking garage on the stadium campus as part of this year's round of TDT funding.
And Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts will present a TDT funding proposal for a planned expansion of its theaters and hosting capabilities. The additions are meant to increase cultural tourism and offer more community programming. CEO Kathy Ramsberger told The Orlando Real a public park element would host 1,000 free events each year.
For more information on Orlando-area attractions and the local hospitality industry, log onto visitorlando.com.
Sponsor: The Orlando Real is sponsored by the Pozek Group — the #1 real estate team in Orlando and the Official Real Estate Team of the Orlando Magic.
About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
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