British visitor numbers to Miami surged in 2022 after two years of low arrival figures amid the pandemic, helping the UK reach fifth spot in the international markets league table.
Last year, there were 209,000 UK visitors to the Florida city, up from 54,000 in 2020 and 40,000 in 2021.
However, the 2022 total was 65% of the 2019 figure, which was 309,000.
The figures come from the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) which said Greater Miami and Miami Beach experienced a “resurgence” of traditional international markets last year, despite travel restrictions and extended visa wait times.
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UK visitors to Florida topped 1.1 million in 2022
Its report about 2022 figures noted: “European markets made a lot of strides over the year as more and more visitors from the UK and Spain returned.”
Colombia is the top international market, with 423,000 visitors in 2022, followed by Brazil, Canada and Mexico, ahead of the UK and Spain in fifth and sixth spots.
Overall, Greater Miami and Miami Beach welcomed more than 26.5 million visitors in 2022 – 9% more than 2021.
The GMCVB said cruise market made a “triumphant return” with a surge in guest volume that began in the summer, rebounding to 2019 levels.
Cumulatively, international visitors comprised 25% of the overnight market, with 4.7 million visitors, contributing to 29% of tourist expenditures.
Bruce Orosz, GMCVB board chair, said: “The return of the international visitor has been key to our destination’s success.
“With the reactivated GMCVB international office network spanning 50 cities in 53 countries, we’ve galvanised key resources to promote international travel to Greater Miami and Miami Beach.”
Earlier this month, US operators tipped further growth for sales to the US, thanks to the axing of Covid-19 vaccination requirements for non-American arrivals from May 12.