MIAMI (WSVN) -- Despite tough economic times, South Florida continues to remain a vacation hot spot.

The Sunshine State has experienced record tourism over the summer and now a new campaign is out to keep the visitors coming.

"South Florida is having a very glorious rebound from having a terrible 2008," said Nicki Grossman of the Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. "We had the best July that we've had in almost 15 years."

Tourism is booming and people are flocking to the city and spending money. "Tourist expenditures are probably going to be $8 billion in Broward County this year," said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler.

"Those visitors come to our town, spend money and when they spend money, that supports jobs," said Bill Talbert of the Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Supporting and new jobs in our community."

Talbert added that Miami-Dade County is also seeing the same trend as Broward. "For the last 15 months, the hospitality industry in Miami has added jobs," he said.

The recession. "It says that people want to travel. They're tired of depriving themselves," said Grossman.

On Thursday, Fort Lauderdale held an event to kick off 2012's marketing campaign. With more and more travelers visiting South Florida the Convention & Visitors Bureau said they're going to digital by using scan tags to spread the word.

"We've got the best weather, anywhere in the country, we've got the best scenery, the best environment to be in. This is the ideal place," said Seiler.

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