Central Florida’s tourism industry generated a record-breaking $98.6 billion in total economic impact in 2025, representing a 4.4% increase over the previous year, according to a new study conducted by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company and leading authority on travel and tourism research.
Experience Kissimmee, Osceola County’s tourism marketing arm, worked with other industry partners like Visit Orlando and the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association (CFHLA) worked together to commission the study.
Speaking of Osceola, visitors spent $7.3 billion in the county in 2025, a 3.8% increase from the previous year and about 12% of the total in the three-county region that included Orange and Seminole. The largest portion of visitor spending was attributed to hotel rooms and vacation home rentals, with Osceola County billed as the “Vacation Home Capital of the World.”
The industry created an $11 billion economic impact in the county, according to the study, and directly or indirectly employed nearly 41,000 people. Overall, visitors spending drives about 35% of Osceola’s total employment base.
The industry also creates a benefit for local residents—a tax savings of $4,600 per household.
“It is an economic estimate showing how much additional local and state tax burden each household would likely bear if there were no visitorspendings generating tax revenue to support fund public services and infrastructure in a community,” said Experience Kissimmee Director of Research Frida Bahja. “In short, tourism helps offset the taxes that residents would otherwise need to pay to maintain the same level of public services.”
According to the study, the Tourist Development Tax (a 6% tax on hotel stays and short-term rentals) generates millions of dollars annually for tourism promotion and other community initiatives, yet accounts for only a fraction (7%) of the $7.1 billion in overall local tax revenue generated by visitors through sales and other taxes.
“Osceola County continues to play a vital role in Central Florida’s tourism success, helping drive economic growth, support local businesses and create jobs for residents. The economic impact generated by tourism in the county reflects the strength of our destination and the enduring appeal of the Kissimmee experience for travelers from around the world,” said DT Minich, President and CEO of Experience Kissimmee. “As visitation continues to grow, we remain focused on supporting a healthy tourism economy that benefits residents while leveraging our worldclass vacation home inventory and diverse accommodations to keep Kissimmee competitive on a global stage.”
And, while inflation has increased financial pressure on consumers, the study doesn’t find evidence that it has directly reduced visitation to Osceola County.
“Travelers appear to be adjusting their behavior by choosing destinations closer to home, driving instead of flying, and seeking greater value in their travel decisions,” Bahja said. “Visitor spending in Osceola County increased more than inflation so far at 5.2 percent year over year during January to June 2026, according to Visa Destination Insights.
Trends suggest travelers continue to see value in Osceola accommodations despite broader inflationary pressures. Rates have maintained their strength, demand has increased 3 percent, and RevPAR (revenue per room night) has grown 6 percent. Hotel performance has also remained strong.”
“Tourism is woven into the fabric of Central Florida and remains one of our region’s greatest economic strengths,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. “The visitors who choose to vacation, meet and do business here fuel our local businesses, create jobs and generate critical tax revenue that supports public services. Every visitor contributes to a stronger, more prosperous community.”
