NBC-2.com WBBH News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral
LEE COUNTY, FL -
With the temperature hovering at or below zero in some parts of Canada right now, Southwest Florida is paradise to Canadian, Mayo Hawco.
"The weather is fantastic. We hear it is unseasonably warm here. For us, it's great," said Hawco.
This winter, Southwest Florida International Airport is seeing more visitors flying in from Canada than ever before. RSW added an additional daily flight from Toronto this year. And just last month, it added a weekly flight to and from Ottawa.
From January to November of 2012, more than 155,000 people flew in on the two Canadian airlines that serve RSW, according to spokeswoman, Vicki Moreland. That's up more than 20% from the same time in 2011. Canadian carrier flights for 2012 are also up 17% from 2011.
"It's been growing for each of the last 4 years," explained Executive Director of the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau, Tamara Pigott.
In 2011 the majority of international visitation was from Canada. The first time ever it topped the list in Lee County.
A big draw for Canadians is real estate. 30% of business at Miloff Aubuchon in Cape Coral comes from Canadians right now.
"As the exchange rate changes and the availability to get down here, it's been increasing each year," said Donna Stout, President Elect of the Cape Coral Association of Realtors.
In the last year, Lee County's Visitor and Convention Bureau stepped up it's marketing campaign in Canada.
"Next week we'll be hosting Glow Magazine, a woman's beauty magazine. They are coming to do a photo shoot and write a travel story about our destination," said Pigott.
Story and Video: http://www.nbc-2.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment