What if?

The Florida tourism industry has been on a five-year growth surge in visitors, the amount of money people spend when they come to the state and several other metrics.

But what about the flip side? What are some threats that can derail the growth pattern? What worries tourism officials for 2017?

The Business Observer checked with five county tourism officials from Polk County to Collier County, and points in between, to get a closer look at what worries stand out this year. One theme: Local tourism leaders want state officials to increase, or at least maintain, the overall marketing budget. A cut in the budget, say officials, would be a disaster.