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"Orlando and Orange County leaders are celebrating after a record number of people visited the area in 2013.Orlando attracted more people than any other city in the country last year -- 59 million.&gt;&gt;Download the Orlando My Way app for iOS | Android\"We would not have these wonderful venues if it weren't for the incredibly hard work of the men and women in the tourism industry,\" said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs.The number, which is triple the population of Florida, was a cause for celebration at the Orange County Commission meeting on Tuesday.\"It is that 59 million visitors and the bed tax that they pay that allows the community to do the things that we do, otherwise the tax burden on our citizens would just be too great,\" said Jacobs.Jacobs proclaimed May 3 through May 11 Travel and Tourism Week and is inviting Orlando residents to get involved in travel and tourism week events in the coming days.\"Your recognition of the value of tourism in our community is so much appreciated by all those who are not only employed but all of the visitors who come here who enjoy the benefits of great hospitality and service that is really embedded in the culture of this community,\" said Visit Orlando President George Aguel.Also see: Caught on video: Senator barely misses getting hit by trainExperts said tourism had a $54 billion economic impact in central Florida last year. Travelers spent $34 billion and the industry supported 380,000 jobs.14277566"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.wesh.com/article/leaders-celebrate-59m-visitors-to-central-florida-in-2013/4433137>