The Orange County Tourist Development Council approved a slate of thirteen tourism projects on Friday, moving them forward for final approval by the Board of Commissioners. The projects will be financed with revenue from the county’s tourist development tax, which is levied on hotel stays and restaurant meals.

Major investments highlighted

The centerpiece of the plan is a $350 million expansion of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Orlando, a move aimed at boosting cultural tourism and attracting larger audiences to the region.

Additional allocations include $60 million for a new museum in Eatonville, $46 million for the University of Central Florida to renovate its soccer stadium and build a new track‑and‑field facility, and $52.5 million for a parking garage at Camping World Stadium.

What was left out

Notably, the Orange County Convention Center did not receive any funding. Industry representatives argued that insufficient research had been done to confirm whether the proposed upgrades would truly increase visitor numbers and tax revenue.

Opposition and council dynamics

Critics of the package included several council members who are hotel and resort executives. Raman Rama, a council member, warned that approving all projects at once could place future leaders in a difficult fiscal position, especially given the uncertainty surrounding Amendment 3. He said, “We need to slow down, analyze every project for its return on investment, how many rooms they’re going to bring in, how many more tax dollars are they going to generate.”

Despite the objections, the council’s majority – which includes the mayors of Orange County, Orlando, and Eatonville as well as a Disney executive – voted 5‑4 in favor of the recommendations. Mayor Jerry Demings had previously recommended the list after a series of meetings with a citizen advisory task force.

Next steps

The recommendations now return to the Orange County Board of Commissioners for a final vote. If approved, the projects will be funded over the coming years, with the expectation that they will enhance Orange County’s appeal to tourists and generate additional tax revenue for local services.

Local business leaders and community members will be watching closely to see how the investments impact job growth, hotel occupancy, and the overall economic health of the county.

Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.