JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – TripAdvisor said millions of its users named Jacksonville one of the top 10 destinations on the rise in the U.S. for 2016.
After a record-breaking year for Jacksonville's tourism industry, travelers picked the city as the No. 10 destination because of its nature and wildlife preserves, historic neighborhoods and golf courses, with things like the beaches and local art scene playing a factor.
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“Based on our great visitation numbers this year, we are not surprised to be in the Top 10, but that doesn’t mean we are not excited about it," Paul Astleford, president and CEO of Visit Jacksonville, said. "Jacksonville has so much to offer and it’s very exciting to know that our marketing and promotion of the city is reaching the right audience, and that people are noticing us and coming to experience Jacksonville."
That wasn't the only good news Jacksonville received this year. Forbes featured Jacksonville as one of the 20 best cities for travel during the summer, and Travelocity ranked the city as the No. 8 best summer vacation destination for 2016.
“We look forward to keeping that momentum our destination has had in 2016 in the new year," Katie Mitura, vice president of marketing and communications at Visit Jacksonville, said. "We will continue to focus our marketing efforts on promoting our waterways, our parks, our beaches and all the eco experiences visitors can enjoy in Jacksonville, as well as our world-class arts scene and the big sporting events that our city does so well.”