April 22, 2025 — "Today, two bills (HB 1221 and HB 7033) just advanced in the Florida House that could eliminate local tourism promotion and redirect critical funds.

If passed, these bills would:
• Eliminate funding for tourism marketing and facilities.
• Dissolve every Tourist Development Council (TDC) in Florida by the end of the year.
• Force a referendum every eight years just to keep local tourism dollars.

This would devastate local jobs, small businesses, events, and essential services.

Tourism is Florida’s number one economic driver. Visitors fund our economy. If these bills pass, residents will pay more and get less. And other states will benefit from our loss.

Now is the time to act:
-Share your story about how tourism impacts your business and community.
-Talk to local media and make your voice heard.
-Engage other community leaders who would be affected.

The Florida Keys & Key West rely on tourism and so do so many other critical areas in the Sunshine State, i.e. Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA).

Let’s protect our future and make our voices heard.

>>> Have we learned nothing from what happened in Colorado in 1993 so infamously studied by Longwoods International?"

The Rise and Fall of Colorado Tourism - longwoods-intl.com

Kara Franker is a chief executive officer in the tourism industry who leads strategic planning and execution of marketing, communications and sales initiatives, including branding, budgeting, integrated international advertising campaigns, content creation and strategy, social media, public relations, website development and crisis communications. She's also a lawyer.