Florida Tourism to Take a New Form? And, Secret Missions in de Islands.

The Florida State Legislature may be about to change what many in Florida believe to be a national state model for tourism promotion. Under Governor Scott's proposed change, Jobs Florida would be the controlling force behind numerous entities including the Office of Unemployment Compensation, Office of Workforce Services, Florida Housing Finance Corporation and tourism--meaning Visit Florida. The Florida Senate has already approved dissolving Visit Florida and House committees appear to be in agreement.

Florida tourism leaders are very vocally objecting to these proposed . In the past, what has been perceived by many as a positive and effective relationship between the public and private sector of the hospitality industry is now being scruntinized by governmental leaders. To provide our listeners with an better understanding of the issue (tourism is a $65 billion annual industry in Florida), Talkin’ Tourism will be speaking with Jack Wert, who has over 20 years experience in tourism destination marketing.

Mr. Wert has help create two destination marketing organizations in Florida, first in Seminole County and the other currently for Collier County. Additionally, Mr. Wert has served as a prior chair of the Florida Convention and Visitors Association, and he currently serves on the board of the Florida Commission on Tourism, the Education Committee for Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) and the DMAI Accreditation Board. He is very qualified to provide Talkin' Tourism listeners with the facts on how this change could impact Florida’s position as a global tourism destination. What are the positives of this change and what are the disadvantages? We plan to explore those questions.
The remainder of the show will be dedicated to spring cleaning. There are always items and topics that never quite make it on the air each week, so this week, Radio Man and History Lady plan to purge the show files and to catch listeners up on all the toursim details from near and far they might find helpful.

What will be covered and what part of the world will it cover?  Here's a hint: last week History Lady disclosed she was going to be taking a trip to a lower Bahamas Island to pursue “the man in the blue suit”. She will be looking for Peaches, Hilton, Ms, T and a man named Marvin. Has History Lady turned double-agent? Is 007 (aka known as Abaco) involved in the mission? Is History Lady on a Talkin’ Tourism secret mission? Tune in tomorrow at 10 a.m. to WPSL 1590 AM or http://www.wpsl.com/ to hear the answers to those questions and more!