MIAMI.- Tourism continues to play a fundamental role in the economy of Miami-Dade County. In 2025, visitor spending will reach $23 billion, an increase of 4% over the previous year and 27% above pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
The figures were presented during the annual meeting of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), held on November 10 at Nu Stadium, in Miami Freedom Park. The meeting brought together more than 700 representatives of the tourism industry, government officials and community members to learn about the economic impact of the sector and analyze its prospects for the coming years.
According to the entity, Miami-Dade received approximately 28 million visitors during 2025. Expenditures in hotels, restaurants, shops, transportation and entertainment generated significant economic activity.
The industry also helped support approximately 216,000 jobs, equivalent to 10% of total local jobs, and generated approximately $5.3 billion annually in tax revenue for county, state and federal governments.
The economic contribution of tourism is also reflected in household savings. The GMCVB estimates that tax revenue generated by visitors provides an average annual sales tax savings of $2,300 per household, or $809 per resident.
Leisure travel accounted for 71% of total visitors, while domestic travelers made up 78% of arrivals. Florida residents accounted for 32% of the total, while international visitors accounted for the remaining 22%.
International demand also maintained a positive evolution during the first half of 2026, when Greater Miami and Miami Beach received 3.2 million international visitors, an increase of 3% compared to the same period in 2025.
Colombia, Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Mexico topped the list of the main international markets for visitors who spend the night in the destination. Among the national markets, New York, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago and Atlanta stood out.
The meetings and conventions segment also contributed to the destination’s results. During fiscal year 2025-2026, 785 meetings and conventions were booked throughout Miami-Dade, representing approximately 520,000 hotel nights and attracting 586,379 attendees. Future reservations extend until 2034.
The hotel performance was another of the highlights of the meeting. David Whitaker, president and CEO of the GMCVB, noted that Greater Miami and Miami Beach ranked among the top six U.S. hotel markets in occupancy and the top four in average daily rates, which increased 9% year-over-year.
Looking to the future, the entity identified important international meetings, sports competitions and cultural events that will contribute to attracting visitors and expanding the international projection of the destination.
Scheduled or planned conventions include Adobe MAX, in November 2026; the G20 summit, in December 2026; and PCMA Convening Leaders, in January 2027. The opening of the Grand Hyatt Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel, scheduled for late 2027, is also expected to expand the area’s capacity to host large meetings and events.
The sports calendar will include the College Football Playoff semifinal, which will be held in January 2027 as part of the Capital One Orange Bowl; the Miami Formula 1 Grand Prix; the Miami Open presented by Itaú; the 25th anniversary of the Life Time Miami Marathon; the NASCAR Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway; the Banana Ball World Tour 2027; and the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup Miami 2027.
Artistic and cultural programming will continue to be another important component of the destination’s appeal. Art Basel Miami Beach and proposals such as Art Night and No Vacancy Miami Beach will bring exhibitions and creative experiences to hotels and other spaces. The office also plans to pay special attention to promoting Miami’s music scene.
The annual meeting also highlighted the importance of alliances between tourism organizations, local businesses and public institutions to maintain the region’s international competitiveness.
Among the institutional announcements, the incorporation of Jonathan Daniels, director and main executive of PortMiami, as a new member of the GMCVB board of directors stood out. Daniels has more than three decades of experience in shipping, logistics and economic development.
As Miami-Dade prepares for another year of intense tourism activity, the figures presented during the meeting confirm that the importance of this industry goes far beyond hotels and visitor attractions, with direct impacts on employment, public revenues, local businesses and the community as a whole.
