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Florida lawmakers on Friday voted overwhelmingly to cut Visit Florida’s budget by 67%, in addition to a series of other reforms to the state’s marketing arm.
In an 80-35 vote, the state’s House of Representatives passed a bill which also calls for limits on staff salaries and staff travel, and more transparency for operations and contracts.
Gov. Rick Scott has staunchly defended Visit Florida, which became embroiled in scandal last year when it was revealed that the marking group had paid the rapper Pitbull $1 million to promote the state, leading to the resignation of Visit Florida’s CEO in January.
Scott has said that defunding the group will lead to a downturn in tourism that will in turn mean fewer Florida jobs.
The bill now heads for a vote in Florida’s Senate. No date has been set.
According to Visit Florida’s opponents, its budget has increased beyond what is necessary, by 169% since 2009, from $29 million to $78 million.
Visit Florida’s defenders tout the organization’s success: its visitor numbers have jumped to over 100 million, the highest in the nation, from around 80 million six years ago.
Sоurсе: travelweekly.com
