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The Latest Travel News from the WorldEscape Community

Florida tourism hits record high

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Florida welcomed more visitors in the first six months of this year than in any comparable period in the history of the state. This week, it was revealed that 54.1 million people have traveled to the state, which is celebrated for its fantastic beaches, year-round sunny weather, and great entertainment facilities.

Governor Rick Scott, who made the announcement at Miami International Airport on Wednesday, said that the boom was largely driven by domestic tourism, with more Americans choosing to explore their own country rather than travel abroad. A total of 45.7 million Americans visited the state between January and June, along with 2.9 million Canadians and 5.5 million people from elsewhere in the world.

The result of this unanticipated boom has been a growth in jobs in the tourist sector for Floridians and an increase in economic prosperity for the state. There is no risk of its resources being strained; it’s still easy to find attractive vacation rentals in Miami and access all the major attractions. The city has enough great restaurants for all of its visitors to dine out in style, especially if they like seafood. There is no shortage of interesting places to visit, from award-winning entertainment venues to beautiful beaches to the Everglades, which is an easy drive down to the south.

There is still time to book flights to Miami International Airport for vacations this year, and Floridians will be hoping that the growth in tourism continues over the coming months.

Disney bans selfie sticks

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Selfie sticks might have become the latest craze, allowing you to take photos of yourself and your friends from further away, but not everyone loves them. Starting July 1, they will be banned at all Disney theme parks around the world.

The ban covers the company’s resort in Orlando, including their four theme parks, water parks and the gaming site Disney Quest, as well as the parks in California, Hong Kong, and Paris. This brings the company in line with a number of other major global tourist attractions that do not allow guests to bring in selfie sticks.

Safety concerns

A spokesperson for Disney stated that the ban had been brought in following concerns for the safety of their cast members and guests. Prior to implementing a full ban, they tried other measures, including warning guests not to use them while on rides. However, they have since had to take the next step of instituting a full ban.

If you are found to have a selfie stick when entering one of the parks, it will be confiscated at the bag check. You will then be able to pick it up on your way out. Alternatively, you can return it to your hotel room or leave it in your car if you’re staying at one of the holiday apartments close to the Paris site or the other Disney resorts.

Other types of attractions that have felt it necessary to ban selfie sticks to prevent the risk of injuries include sporting venues, music festivals, and museums.