This is not a good time to travel to the state of Florida, say two minority advocacy groups.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) issued a travel advisory and said that the state of Florida has become too hostile to black travelers under Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The state had threatened this earlier this year, but the governor called it a publicity stunt.
"On a seeming quest to silence African-American voices, the Governor and the State of Florida have shown that African Americans are not welcome in the State of Florida," the travel advisory reads. "Due to this sustained, blatant, relentless and systemic attack on democracy and civil rights, the NAACP hereby issues a travel advisory to African Americans, and other people of color regarding the hostility towards African Americans in Florida."
"Let me be clear - failing to teach an accurate representation of the horrors and inequalities that Black Americans have faced and continue to face is a disservice to students and a dereliction of duty to all...Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, the state of Florida has become hostile to Black Americans and in direct conflict with the democratic ideals that our union was founded upon, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said.
A statement from Dana Young President and CEO, VISIT FLORIDA, calls the advisory "a disservice."
"As Florida's official tourism marketing corporation, VISIT FLORIDA represents all aspects of the state's tourism industry. We pride ourselves on welcoming every visitor with the same warmth and friendliness, no matter where they are from, what they believe, whom they love or what their abilities are. It is disappointing when partisan organizations attempt to weaponize travel in pursuit of political ends. Travel advisories issued with blatant factual misrepresentations are a disservice to the traveling public and are disrespectful to the incredibly diverse visitors and residents that are proud to call Florida home.
The saddest part of this political stunt is that the people who would be most impacted are the hardworking hospitality professionals in Florida who depend on tourism to support themselves and their families. History proves that travel opens minds to diverse ideas and builds new connections. We encourage leaders to elevate the facts and put an end to these baseless and harmful attacks on the Florida tourism industry."
Young served in the Florida House from 2010 through 2016, rising to Majority Leader for the 2015 and 2016 legislative sessions. In 2016, she was elected to the Florida Senate, where she represented parts of western Hillsborough County for two years.
Young was appointed to the VISIT FLORIDA position by Governor Ron DeSantis in January of 2019. In addition to her duties as President and CEO, she is a member of the U.S. Travel Association's Executive Committee.
Florida's new immigration law has prompted one Latino advocacy group to issue a travel advisory as well. The law goes into effect in July and calls for employers with more than 25 workers to check their immigration status against a national database.
Citing, in part, the new Florida law, Domingo Garcia, president of the Latino advocacy group League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), said: "As a result of this for only the second time in LULAC history, we're issuing a travel advisory for anybody traveling to Florida."
TravelPulse Canada will be polling consumers and advisors on the subject.
"Will the changes being proposed or implemented, Governor Ron DeSantis, duly elected by the people of Florida, on abortion rights, open carry gun policies, LGTBQ, or changes last week to the education system with bill SB-266 impact your decision to travel to Florida for vacation?"
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