Florida tourism shows growth

Florida received 85.9 million visitors last year, a 4.4 percent increase over 2010, according to data from VisitFlorida. The increase came after 84.5 million visitors came to the state last year, which was a record at the time, the Miami Herald reported. The tourism sector was buoyed by a 16.1 percent increase in the number of overseas visitors, many of whom ultimately purchased residential properties. There was also a 5.7 percent increase in Canadian visitors and a 3 percent jump in the number of U.S.-based tourists to the Sunshine State. [Miami Herald]