half of tourism to Miami Dade County. Of the 15.86 million people staying in the county in 2017, 58.5% lodged in Miami Beach. Resort taxes account for over 10% of the city's operating budget, providing $83 million in the fiscal year 2016–2017. On average, the city's resort tax revenue grows by three to five percent annually. Miami Beach hosts 13.3 million visitors each year. In fiscal year 2016/2017, Miami Beach had over 26,600 hotel rooms. Average occupancy in fiscal year 2015/2016 was 76.4% and 78.5% in fiscal year 2016/2017. Mayor Harold Rosen is credited with beginning the revitalization of Miami Beach when he notably abolished rent control in 1976, a move that was highly controversial at the time. The Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority The Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority is a seven-member board, appointed by the City of Miami Beach Commission. The authority, established in 1967 by the State of Florida legislature, is the official marketing and public relations organization for the city, to support its tourism industry. See also 8th & Ocean Collins Bridge Causeways Julia Tuttle Causeway Macarthur Causeway Venetian Causeway Doral Hotel List of mayors of Miami Beach, Florida List of tallest buildings in Miami Beach List of upscale shopping districts Miami Beach Police Department Miami Modern Architecture Miami-Dade County Ocean Drive Rosie the Elephant South Beach Tow Spring Break A Hole in the Head, 1959 comedy film The Bellboy, 1960 comedy film Fair Game, 1995 film References Bibliography 1920 ed. Gallery External links Official sites City of Miami Beach Photos Miami Beach Architecture Photos Photographs of Miami Beach From the State Library & Archives of Florida Photos of Miami Beach, Miami and surrounding areas Other Miami Design Preservation League – Non-profit Organization for the preservation of Miami Beach Architectural History Miami's Southeast Coast – Biscayne Bay Watershed – Florida DEP Items related to Miami Beach, various dates (via Digital Public Library of America) Harris, Alex. “Miami Beach Is Waging War on Sea Rise. One Idea: Turn a Golf Course into Wetlands.” Miamiherald, Miami Herald, 20 Sept. 2019, Wildflower Preserve - Lemon Bay Conservancy. Wildflower Preserve. Wood, Travis. “As Hundreds of Golf Courses Close, Nature Gets a Chance to Make a Comeback.” Ensia, As hundreds of golf courses close, nature gets a chance to make a comeback. Cities in Miami-Dade County, Florida Islands of Miami-Dade County, Florida Atlantic Coast barrier islands of Florida Beaches