Orlando Area Tourism & Travel Archives - Page 19 of 31 - Orlando vacation home rentals near Disney. Orlando vacation rentals

Where is the Closest Beach to Orlando Florida?

Although you may have booked your Orlando villa to be close to theme parks and area attractions, keep in mind that there are some great Florida beaches within a 2 hour drive from the vacation home corridor. The following are our top picks for closest beaches from Orlando with approximate travel time to and from Kissimmee Florida.

Cocoa Beach (1 Hour)

Cocoa Beach is the closest drive from most area vacation villas. It is roughly 65 miles due east on the Beeline 528 Expressway.The major attraction in Cocoa Beach is the pier which extends out some 800 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. There are currently four restaurants in the area that serve anything from seafood to sandwiches. At times of the year when the weather is pleasant, it’s a treat to enjoy outdoor dining.

The best place to park is at Lori Wilson Park. Facilities at the park include restrooms, pavilions, playground and a large boardwalk. At times the park and beachfront can get very crowded, but the on-site amenities make this beach very convenient. Read More→

As it becomes apparent that slow domestic economic growth may be with us in the short term, attention turns to where economic and visitor growth opportunities may exist for 2009-2010 and beyond. This will be critical for forecasting growth opportunities for Orlando travel and tourism with the strong indication that the domestic American economy will be negative to sluggish for at least the remainder of the year.

Although somewhat controversial in its application, national GDP growth is a relative indicator for the health of an underlying macroeconomy. According to EU, OECD and IMF national statistical offices, the following forecasted country growth estimates are applicable for 2009:

United States – 1.5%
Canada – 1.2%
Western and Central Europe – 1.7%
Mexico – 1.0%
Brazil 1.0%
Much of Latin America 0-1+%
China and India 5-6%

The problem for Orlando travel and tourism growth in 2009 is that the top countries with negative economic growth are the biggest current contributors to Orlando’s baseline level of visitor activity.

Although projections can change at any time, Latin American economic growth should help stimulate the middle classes in those countries with the benefit of higher discretionary incomes and subsequent increased travel.

Moreover, there will be some pockets of growth and opportunity for Florida travel, but not enough to offset those areas that contribute such a significant amount to the local economy and provide needed resort tax revenues.