Visit Florida, the tourism body for the sunshine state, has revealed that 2003 was “a relatively good year for Florida,” following 2002 in which the state reached the lowest point of its regular four-year cycle with British visitor numbers falling to 1.3million from a Millennium year high of 1.7million.

However, it said that although sales in January this year were well ahead of the same time last year, the season “did not fulfil its early promise.”

It claimed that the very good weather in Britain this year played a major role in keeping Britons at home, but added that this fall was counterbalanced by the dollar to sterling exchange rate which meant budgets went further than in previous years.

Capacity was increased for the summer season and looks to grow even more for the winter 2003/4 with Virgin Atlantic, Travel City Direct and American Airlines increasing services between the US and the UK.