According to preliminary estimates released by Visit Florida, the state’s official tourism marketing corporation, Florida welcomed 105 million visitors in 2015.

This is the fifth consecutive record year for visitation to Florida, exceeding the previous high of 98.5 million in 2014 by 6.6 per cent.

Visit Florida estimates show that 1.6 million UK visitors travelled to the Sunshine State last year, boasting an increase of five per cent on visitors from 2014.

Total enplanements at 18 Florida airports during 2015 increased 8.2 per cent over the previous year, representing a record 6.1 million more enplaned passengers than in 2014.

Governor Scott said: “I am proud to announce that Florida has surpassed our tourism goal and welcomed an historic 105 million visitors to our state in 2015. 

“The number of travel-related jobs also reached a record high, with 1.2 million Floridians employed in the tourism industry.

“Tourism plays an important role in supporting our economy, and we will continue to make strategic investments in the tourism industry to keep Florida on track to becoming first for jobs. 

“With five consecutive record years for tourism, it is time to set our goal even higher, and I look forward to welcoming 115 million visitors to the Sunshine State this year.”

For fourth quarter 2015, preliminary estimates show a record 25.2 million people visited the Sunshine State.

This represents the largest fourth quarter visitation number Florida has ever seen and reflects an increase of 6.7 per cent over the same period in 2014.