Visit Florida had deal to promote state in Syria, a country on Trump's travel ban
TALLAHASSEE - Visit Florida, the state's tourism agency under fire from lawmakers, hired a German company in March to market the state to travelers from Syria, one of the countries identified as a state sponsor of terrorism and included in President Donald Trump's temporary travel ban.
The contract between Visit Florida and Munich-based AviaReps was signed March 19 to market the state in 10 Middle Eastern countries, including Syria.
Florida's embattled tourism promotion agency canceled the contract Wednesday after the Naples Daily News began asking questions about it.
That same day, the agency signed a new contract with AviaReps that excluded marketing the state as a travel destination in Syria, listed by the U.S. State Department as a state sponsor of terrorism.
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Gov. Rick Scott, who has lobbied for Visit Florida to receive more state money, has backed Trump's tough stance on foreign travel into the U.S., particularly from countries like Syria with links to terrorism. Trump issued the temporary ban in January but withdrew it after a federal appeals court issued a stay to review it. Trump issued a new temporary travel ban in March.
Scott offered Trump support in January for the temporary travel ban, noting at the time he believed the president was "working for public safety."
"It is important to me. Our immigration system doesn't work, as we all know," Scott said.
“I’m glad the president is focused on the safety of America,” he told reporters.
The March contract with AviaReps for tourism promotion states, "The primary function of the contractor is to provide expertise in assisting VISIT FLORIDA with the development and implementation of a strategic marketing plan targeting: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Egypt."
The firm would "work with VISIT FLORIDA partners and contractors, work with tour operators, travel agents, airlines and Online Travel Agencies (OTA) to promote visitation to Florida and education about Florida destinations," the contract states.
The German firm receives $3,500 a month under the contract from March through June, plus approved expenses.
Visit Florida spokesman John Tupps said the initial contract that existed for nearly two months was an error.
"VISIT FLORIDA was recently alerted to a clerical error in a short-term contract with the international advertising agency AviaReps," Tupps said in a statement. "In two places, the contract inaccurately listed several Middle East countries as areas of marketing focus.
"We immediately updated the contract to reflect the correct countries," Tupps said.
Visit Florida President Ken Lawson signed the initial contract in March, just over a week after Trump issued the 90-day ban on visitors from six Middle Eastern countries, including Syria. A week later, federal courts in Hawaii and Maryland suspended the ban while the order was under review. The ban also would include travelers from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Trump's order would cover all visitors from Syria, including vacationers, said a U.S. State Department official.
The Daily News contacted Visit Florida about the tourism promotion contract Tuesday. On Wednesday, Visit Florida signed a new contract with AviaReps that limits marketing to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
"This agreement terminates and replaces the agreement previously executed between the parties on March 20, 2017 for the purpose of correcting the markets in which services are being provided," the contract states.
The Legislature reduced funding to Visit Florida because of concerns about the agency's use of taxpayers' money. Despite warnings from Scott, lawmakers agreed Monday to cut Visit Florida's budget from $76 million to $25 million. They also approved language in the state budget that would bring tougher restrictions on how the agency signs its contracts.
Scott has toured the state criticizing the legislative action, saying it would lead to fewer tourists visiting the state and less revenue. Last year, the state saw a record 112.8 million tourists, which Scott said was due to Visit Florida.
But reports prepared by state economists revealed Visit Florida will generate only 9 percent of the $2.9 billion in tax revenue the state will collect from tourists this year. Sales tax revenue accounts for about 79 percent of the state dollars used to create this year's $83 billion budget.
Scott must decide how he will respond to the nearly $83 billion budget proposed by lawmakers. Legislative leaders have not sent the budget to Scott but are expected to in the coming days.
House Speaker Richard Corcoran, a chief critic of public money for Visit Florida and other incentive programs promoted by Scott, said Lawson was reckless in signing the March deal to market the state in Syria. In February, the war-torn nation known to harbor terrorists was identified by the Trump administration as one of seven "countries of concern."
"The president (Lawson) entering into contracts with a nation of concern is beyond concerning," said Corcoran, R-Land O' Lakes. "It demands answers and it demands change."
Tupps said Visit Florida has no marketing efforts in Syria and never planned to market in Syria. AviaReps also is contracted with the agency to market the state in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and China.
The eliminated contract was signed by Lawson and AviaReps Middle East Chairman Michael Merner.