Record number of tourists visited South Florida in 2012: report

A record number of tourists visited Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties in 2012, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. In Broward, a total of 12 million tourists brought $9.8 billion in revenue to the county, a record on both fronts. “I think international arrivals will be the main driver for growth in 2013 because of new flights to South Florida,” said Nicki Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau. “And the U.S. dollar remains cheap compared to other currencies, which makes it easier for visitors to come here and to buy when they’re here.” Part of the tourism growth has been driven by the real estate sector, along with healthier hotel market. And just as Latin America helped save the condo market in South Florida, visitors from the south increasingly have the region on their radar. [Sun Sentinel]