Pow Wow: Visitor figures gather pace…

Orlando tourism chiefs have described 2004 as a year of “sensational growth”, with a projected 2.6 million international arrivals. This figure is expected to rise to 2.8 million this year.

Nevertheless, visitor numbers have failed to reach the pre-2001 high that was expected this year.

Speaking at Pow Wow, Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau president Bill Peeper said the UK had been leading the international recovery, with a projected 1.1 million visitors for this year.

However, the best-ever performance of 1.312 million in 2001 is now unlikely to be topped until 2007, when 1.322 million Brits are expected to make the journey to Orlando.

Operators confirmed that Florida has been slower to recover than expected. Jetlife and Virgin product managers Graham Bendelow and Angus Bond both said the family market was waiting longer to make their bookings this year.

However, Peeper was positive that growth would continue, stressing the new developments in resort. The biggest news this year is the opening of Fear Factor Live at Universal (see story, page 54), and Disney’s Happiest Celebration on Earth, which sees four attractions imported from other Disney parks to Walt Disney World Resort.

Debuting now at the Florida park are the hang-gliding simulator Soarin’ from Epcot; the Lights, Motors, Action! stunt show from Disney-MGM studios in Paris; and the musical attraction Cinderellabration from Tokyo. New in the Animal Kingdom is Lucky the Dinosaur, a free-roaming animatronic creation that can react to crowds and sign autographs.

Orlando will host Pow Wow in 2006, with events planned at SeaWorld, Universal and Disney. Peeper said the show would provide to opportunity to see how Orlando has “grown up” since the event was last held there in 2001. Recent developments include the Grande Lakes complex, housing both a Marriott and a Ritz-Carlton, and the high-end Mall at Millennia. The Orange County Convention Centre has also doubled in size, now offering 2.1 million sq ft of space.