Tourists loved visiting Osceola County in 2021 and 2022.

Experience Kissimmee reports a record breaking 76 million in tourist tax dollars.

What you should know:

Record breaking 76 million dollars collected in tourist tax dollars.

Tax collection increased 25% for 2021-2022.
$577,455 of additional funds will be divided up to seven organizations.
$227.242 will go to the Osceola Center for the arts.

The Tourist Development Council of Kissimmee says its tourist tax collections increased by over
25% for the 2021-2022 fiscal year.

The TDT is a tax on temporary lodging charged to visitors who stay in hotels and vacation
rentals in Osceola County.

D.T. Minich, President, and CEO of Experience Kissimmee, says thanks to a tourist tax windfall,
thousands will go to seven organizations throughout Osceola County.

“It’s just over a half a million that we’re dividing amongst the organizations,” said Minich.

Including 227 thousand to their performing arts center.

“The Osceola arts is the biggest benefactor,” he said.

How Experience Kissimmee will split TDT funds:

Kissimmee Gateway Airport $15,031

Kissimmee Valley Livestock Show $47,597
Osceola Center for the Arts $227,242
Osceola Chamber $6,012
Saint Cloud Chamber $6,012

Experience Kissimmee is a marketing company that the Osceola County funds to market
tourism around the world.

Minich believes there was a lot of demand for people wanting to travel following the recovery
of the pandemic.

“That is what led to the record-breaking tourist development taxes,” said Munich.

Much of the 76 million dollars Minich says goes to marketing, and capital improvements
throughout the county.