Visitors to Florida on pace to set record year for tourism

TAMPA - The state's marketing agency, Visit Florida, says 22.1 million people visited Florida in the second quarter of this year.  That's up 1.3% compared to the same time in 2011.

The state set a record last year with 87 million visitors.

So far this year, an estimated 55.8 million people have visited the Sunshine State.  Visit Florida says much of the increase in tourism is being driven by overseas visitors, especially from Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.

And all those visitors are creating more jobs. The tourism industry added 11,000 jobs between April and June.