The sun is shining a little brighter on Florida tourism today. According to a report in the Sun-Sentinel, the Sunshine State welcomed 85.9 million visitors in 2011.

That figure marks a 4.4 percent increase over 2010 and sets a new record for the most visits in the state’s history. The previous record was set back in 2007 before the global recession hit.

Tourism numbers grew across the board, with the number of visitors arriving on flights to Florida up both domestically and internationally. The biggest increase came in the number of overseas visits, with a 16 point jump year-over-year.

The growth helped the state add 38,000 jobs in 2011, bringing the rate of tourism-related employment near pre-recession levels.

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