The number of visitors to the SunshineState in the first
quarter of 2006 was essentially flat over the same period in 2005, according to
Visit Florida, the state's official tourism promotion organization. An
estimated 23.2 million people visited Florida
in the first quarter of 2006, officials said. "What we are not seeing is
the growth in visitor numbers that has been the hallmark of Florida tourism for the past several years,
said Bud Nocera, president and CEO of Visit Florida.