Tourism's record year in 2025 translated into real dollars for Miami Beach, Surfside, Bal Harbour and Bay Harbor Islands households: an estimated $2,300 per household and $809 per resident in annual tax savings, according to figures the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) released at its State of the Travel & Tourism Industry event June 3.

The bureau reported that 28.3 million visitors came to Greater Miami and Miami Beach in 2025, generating $32.2 billion in total economic impact. Visitors spent $22.7 billion on lodging, dining, shopping, transportation and entertainment, a 4.1% jump from 2024. More than $2.2 billion in local and state tax revenues from tourism produced those per-household and per-resident savings.

Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner was among the speakers at the event, held at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables before more than 500 attendees. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, County Commission Chairman Anthony Rodriguez and Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis also spoke.

Jobs and wages

The industry supported more than 216,000 jobs countywide in 2025, representing 10% of all employment in Miami-Dade County. Wages across the hospitality sector topped $12 billion. Tourism accounted for about 8% of the county's gross domestic product and generated more than $5.3 billion in combined federal, state and local tax revenues.

Lodging alone produced $10.4 billion in visitor spending, nearly half of all expenditures. International visitors spent more than $1,150 per person, per trip on average, with top markets including Colombia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada and Mexico.

Hotels lead the nation

Greater Miami and Miami Beach entered 2026 leading the nation's top 25 hotel markets in occupancy, average daily room rate and revenue per available room through the first four months of the year, according to the June 3 report.

GMCVB Board Chair Julissa Kepner called tourism "a core driver of our economic strength and quality of life for residents" and said continued progress would require sustained investment in marketing, major events and sustainability.

What's ahead for the beach

Several developments could draw additional visitors to Lincoln Road, Ocean Drive and the Art Deco Historic District. The Grand Hyatt Miami Beach, the convention center's headquarters hotel, is under construction. Miami Spice and the South Beach Wine & Food Festival mark their 25th anniversaries in 2026.