Orange county has set a record for tourist tax revenues in the month of December. They came in at $20.57 million this year, a 12 percent improvement over December 2014 and the first time ever the $20 million mark has been surpassed during December. Tourist taxes are charged on short-term rentals, and are mostly restricted to hotels and motels. The funds are spent in the county to improve or build new facilities like the Orange County Convention Center, the Citrus Bowl, or the new Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. More than 62 million visitors came to the Orlando area last year, with an economic impact of $60 billion.
