In 2014, Visit Florida offered a “Tourism Support” grant of up to $50,000 to the Key West Institute for Plastic Surgery.
The group on its website advertises some of the services it provides, including “Silicone Breast Implants” and the “Brazilian Butt Lift."
Visit Florida says the grant offer was part of a $5 million appropriation by Florida, and that plastic surgery center only was able to receive $2,068.50 after it failed to meet the $50,000 match.
The grants from Visit Florida are coming under increased scrutiny from the Florida Legislature as it looks into the state’s tourism arm and its impact on the state.
“We’re having the debate about what those incentives actually accomplish,” said Rep Jason Brodeur (R - Seminole County) in an interview with Eyewitness News. “There is no correlation between the money we send to Visit Florida and the number of tourists.”
Visit Florida on Tuesday took part in a rally at the State Capitol to try and preserve its funding, which has grown in recent years.
In 2009, Visit Florida’s budget was $29 million; last year, the group got $80 million. This year, the legislature is eyeing deep cuts and increased oversight on how the group spends money.
For its part, Visit Florida says the medical-tourism spending in 2014 was handled by a task force that did not include any Visit Florida staff, even though Visit Florida helped appoint the task force.
Visit Florida also says of the $5 million it was given by the legislature, only $4.2 million was spent, and that the remaining $800,000 was returned to the state.
Cox Media Group