As of June 1, more than 50% of Americans have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Given these positive numbers, the CDC recently lifted mask and social distancing requirements for fully vaccinated individuals, as well as restrictions on travelers in the United States. These changes have sparked cautious optimism nationwide, giving people the confidence to dine in at restaurants, plan long-awaited summer trips, and even watch films at movie theaters again. 

This has been great news for Florida businesses and the local economy, where the tourism industry has traditionally reigned supreme. Before the pandemic, tourism contributed $85.9 billion to the state’s GDP, and more than one out of every nine residents had a job related to the industry. At the start of the pandemic, it all collapsed leaving hundreds of thousands of Floridians without jobs.