Visit Orlando have announced that the destination welcomed 6.13 million international visitors in 2023, an increase of 25% over 2022 numbers. Canada remains Orlando’s top international market, with more than 1.2 million visitors traveling to Orlando in 2023, the highest number from this market in Orlando’s history.
“We saw strong gains from all of our core international markets, including the U.K.,” said Casandra Matej, President and CEO for Visit Orlando. “Orlando’s international growth is a testament to the uniqueness of our unbelievably real destination, the support from our travel trade partners and our emphasis on strategic marketing initiatives to help drive visitation from our key markets.”
The 2023 international visitation numbers represent 94% of pre-pandemic (2019) levels, with Canada, U.K. and Brazil remaining the top three international origin markets to Orlando.
- Canada: 1,256,000 (↑ 46%) – All-time record-breaking visitation number
- United Kingdom: 877,000 (↑ 8%)
- Brazil: 696,000 (↑ 21%)
- Mexico: 432,000 (↑ 10%)
- Colombia: 302,000 (↑ 5%)
Contributing to this significant international growth were a variety of factors, including new direct airlift in nearly all of Orlando’s top international markets, giving visitors more opportunities to get to Orlando easily and affordably, along with a more streamlined visa process in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. Visit Orlando expanded on its robust “Unbelievably Real” marketing campaign efforts, including a widespread “Winter Doesn’t Exist” campaign in key international markets during the colder months, further driving awareness and increasing desire for visitors to explore Orlando’s unique offerings.
Visit Orlando shared 2023 international visitation figures this week as part of U.S. Travel Association’s IPW, known as the “Super Bowl of the travel industry,” attracting travel buyers and media from more than 60 countries. Overall visitation numbers will be unveiled in late May, including domestic leisure and group business figures.
In 2024 and beyond, the Theme Park Capital of the World continues to grow with an exciting lineup of new experiences for visitors to enjoy – from movie-inspired attractions and a launch coaster with snowmobile-style cars to a luxury beach-like resort with an 8-acre crystal lagoon.
NEW AT THE THEME PARKS
- Several new attractions will open this summer at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park. Tiana’s Bayou will take guests on a musical adventure inspired by the beloved story and characters from the animated film “The Princess and the Frog.” Guests will be goin’ down the bayou with Princess Tiana during Mardi Gras season as she prepares to host a one-of-a-kind celebration for the people of New Orleans. The Country Bear Musical Jamboree, a whole new show, will feature renditions of classic Disney tunes, reimagined across country music genres. These new attractions follow the recently opened TRON Lightcycle / Run coaster. Located in Tomorrowland, it’s one of the fastest coaster attractions in a Disney theme park.
- SeaWorld Orlando, celebrating its 60th Anniversary, will debut Penguin Trek, an immersive indoor/outdoor launch coaster families can ride together this spring. Guests will ride snowmobile-inspired cars going at a maximum capacity of 43 mph, ending up in the park’s penguin habitat. The park also debuted an all-new look and feel to their Orca Stadium this year.
- Universal Orlando Resort’s new Dreamworks Land will open June 14 at Universal Studios Florida. The new family-friendly area, inspired by DreamWorks Animation’s characters including Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and Trolls, will feature family-friendly roller coaster, Trolls Trollercoaster; multiple interactive play areas, including Shrek’s Swamp for Little Ogres, Poppy’s Playground and Po’s Kung Fu Training Camp; character meet and greet zones; and live entertainment. The park will also debut additional experiences this summer, including CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular – a riveting new nighttime lagoon show debuting June 14 at Universal Studios Florida; Hogwarts Always – an all-new castle projection show debuting June 14 in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure; and Universal’s largest daytime parade to date, Universal Mega Movie Parade., debuting July 3 at Universal Studios Florida.
- LEGOLAND Florida Resort opened LEGO Ferrari Build & Race in March, offering guests the experience of viewing a life-sized LEGO Ferrari car, and building and testing it in one of three obstacle-laden test tracks. Younger drivers can enjoy the LEGO DUPLO Build Zone to design their own custom creations with larger bricks.
What’s Next
- In 2025, Universal Orlando Resort will unveil its next gamechanger for theme park entertainment with the debut of its most ambitious theme park yet: Universal Epic Universe; a level of theme park immersion and innovation that is unmatched – transporting guests to expansive worlds featuring more than 50 awe-inspiring attraction, entertainment, dining, and shopping experiences – and transforming the award-winning resort into a weeklong vacation destination filled with the most compelling experiences imaginable.
NEW ACCOMMODATIONS
- Evermore Orlando Resort opened Jan. 1 as Orlando’s first beach-like property, with an 8-acre Crystal Lagoon and a 20-acre sandy beach with hammocks, cabanas and recreational activities. Guests can enjoy family paddleboarding, mixology classes, sandcastle-building lessons and more. Evermore, which has the world’s first touchless sunscreen application system, is thoughtfully built for large groups and families, offering a range of 2- to 11-bedroom vacation homes.
- Conrad Orlando, the destination’s first Hilton luxury brand, opened Jan. 9 with 433 rooms, a spa, numerous dining options – including its signature rooftop experience – and 40,000 square feet of indoor meeting space. Located at Evermore Orlando Resort, the property overlooks a golf course, a two-story boathouse for private events and Evermore Bay’s Crystal Lagoon and sandy beaches.
- Villatel Orlando Resort, situated within the International Drive area, began a phased opening in late 2023, offering private villa rentals with hotel-style standards and amenities. The property will eventually include an adventure waterpark with multi-story slides and a lazy river, a fully equipped fitness centre, full-service restaurant and children’s playgrounds. Upon full completion in 2025, the entire resort will have 526 units with apartment-style suites and single-family homes.
- Universal Orlando Resort will add 1,500 guest rooms to the destination’s hotel portfolio, with Universal Stella Nova Resort opening January 21, 2025 and Universal Terra Luna Resort opening February 25, 2025. The new property rates will start at $147 (per night, plus tax), based on a stay of four nights or more, featuring 750 double-queen guest rooms with spaceship-styled windows, a variety of dining options and amenities including resort-style pools, fitness centres, game rooms, recreation rooms and more.
AWARD-WINNING DINING AT MICHELIN GUIDE RESTAURANTS
- Orlando’s evolving dining scene has been recognized with one of the world’s highest culinary honours. In the third edition of the MICHELIN Guide Miami, Orlando and Tampa, inspectors announced four new Michelin starred Orlando restaurants for 2024.
- The MICHELIN Guide also recognized Orlando’s creativity, commitment to service and sustainability with three special awards: Michelin Exceptional Cocktails Award for Justin Levaughn of Otto’s High Dive; Michelin Service Award to Israel Perez, maître d’hôtel and sommelier of Victoria & Albert’s; and Michelin Green Star, which recognizes exceptional sustainable dining that doesn’t sacrifice flavour, to Kaya, led by Chef Lordfer Lalicon.
- Michelin’s recognition of the 48 identified Orlando restaurants includes seven MICHELIN Starred venues, 11 Bib Gourmands and 30 Recommended eateries.
For more information about what’s new in Orlando, go to VisitOrlando.com.
