PUNTA GORDA, Fla.—Another international business has chosen to make Florida their business hub and plans to move its headquarters from New York to Miami giving the state more tax revenue as well as boosting tourism travel to the state.
Israel’s national carrier El Al Airlines announced on June 12 that it plans to make the move to a more “business-friendly climate.”It has been headquartered in New York for decades. The move will save the company approximately $500,000 per year.
“Israel’s decision to move El Al Airlines from New York City to South Florida is the latest example of Florida’s leadership in business expansion and international travel,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a statement. “We are proud to be the hub for international tourism.”
According to Visit Florida website, tourism numbers continued to be “record-breaking” in the first quarter of 2022.
The website estimated that more than 1.3 million overseas tourists visited the Sunshine State, a 169 percent increase from first-quarter 2021.
Thirty-six million people visited Florida, which gave the state an almost 40 percent increase from 2021.
“Florida’s tourism industry begins 2022 with incredible strength, proving that freedom first policies will always win,” DeSantis said when announcing the record figures at a June 9 press conference.
The governor continued to be optimistic about tourism numbers, which are a major economic driver for the state, amidst a looming recession.
“Florida’s latest visitation estimates are incredible news for our economy and all Floridians,” DeSantis said.
“Economists originally projected that Florida tourism wouldn’t fully recover until 2024, but quarter after quarter ... Florida’s visitation numbers continue to break records and defy conventional wisdom.”
