ORLANDO, Fla. — Osceola County is celebrating a record-breaking year in tourism.

What You Need To Know

  • The county collected $81 million in tourist development tax funds last year

  • Experience Kissimmee got a percentage of that money, dispersing about $1.1 million to seven organizations across the county 

  • EK gave Osceola Arts nearly $438,000 to use for marketing and capital improvements to attract more visitors there

New data from Tourism Economics shows the county saw about 10 million overnight visitors in 2023 and those visitors spent money, nearly $6.5 billion, according to Experience Kissimmee, Osceola County’s tourism marketing department.

The county collected $81 million in tourist development tax (TDT) funds last year. That surpasses the $76 million collected the previous year.

Experience Kissimmee got a percentage of that money, dispersing about $1.1 million to seven organizations across the county so they can continue to drive tourism to Osceola County.

One of those seven organizations includes Osceola Arts, whose leaders say they are hoping to use the money to attract tourists to the arts.

Some Osceola County second graders were on a field trip at Osceola Arts in April. Jeremiah Krivinchuk, chief operating officer for Osceola Arts, says experiences like this for anyone, including kids, can be healing and transformational. He finds meaning in his work.  

“The kids will get to immerse themselves and be on stage, they get to dress up in costumes,” said Krivinchuk.

Krivinchuk says Osceola Arts has been in the county since 1960. It’s the designated local arts agency here.

“People can learn to sing, dance, they can take pottery classes, painting classes, drawing classes,” he said.

Experience Kissimmee recently handed Osceola Arts nearly $438,000 to use for marketing and capital improvements. Krivinchuk says funds from Experience Kissimmee will allow them to expedite a new digital sign to drive tourism here.

“We’re talking a huge television right on 192, if you will. We’ll be able to put content from our shows, from our education programs from our visual arts programs and display those out on that digital screen where we didn’t have that opportunity before,” he said.

Krivinchuk says he’s witnessed the growth and development of Osceola County through the years.

“When I first started here there was literally nothing except for us and some orange groves,” he said.

He says because they’re a small nonprofit, there is a limited marketing budget to draw attention to the facility and drive business there.

In 2023, Osceola County collected a total of $81 million in tourist development tax funds because of an exponential increase in TDT collections, Experience Kissimmee this year, nearly doubling their contributions compared to last year.

This was pleasant news for Osceola Arts.

“The storm that came through a few years ago completely knocked out the motherboard of this sign, they’re expensive to replace,” he said.

The second part of the second graders’ fieldtrip involved creating art.

“Our visual arts advisor tray gets to tell them about the artwork that they see ask them questions about it but he also leads them through an art class,” he said.

Krivinchuk says they’ll also use this money to relocate their offices to create proper dressing rooms and backstage spaces and boost their marketing budget, fast-forwarding projects that have been on hold because of a lack of funds.

Experience Kissimmee receives 45% of the net TDT. “Net” means that the tax collector gets 8% of the collections before Experience Kissimmee gets its 45%.  The county retains the other 55% of the net.

In a statement to Spectrum News 13 Orlando, President and CEO of Experience Kissimmee says their responsibility extends beyond bringing more people into Osceola County. He says in part:

“It encompasses caring for the well-being of our local community. By reinvesting in our community, we are not only fulfilling our duty as a nonprofit organization but also reaffirming our dedication to the prosperity and well-being of everyone who calls Osceola County home. Together, we continue to embrace the transformative value of tourism,” said DT Minich, president and CEO of Experience Kissimmee.

Ultimately, Experience Kissimmee gifted a check of $1,111,877 recently for “capital improvements or marketing of the organization” to seven organizations including:

  • Kissimmee Gateway Airport: $28,941 
  • Kissimmee Valley Livestock Show: $91,646
  • Osceola Center For The Arts: $437,549 
  • Osceola Chamber: $11,576 
  • Saint Cloud Chamber: $11,576 
  • Silver Spurs, Inc. : $183,293 
  • Welcome Center (Historical Society) : $347,293