Florida experienced record tourism this summer, but experts worry water released from Lake Okeechobee this year might affect next year’s summer tourism numbers.

According to data released Friday by VISIT FLORIDA, Florida’s tourism agency, almost 23 million people visited the state between July and September of this year. That’s the largest third quarter visitation numbers in the state’s history.

Tamara Pigott – with the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau, said it was also a particularly good summer for Lee County. She said visitation was up 14 percent in the area and visitor spending increased by 8 percent.

However, Pigott said this summer’s water releases from Lake Okeechobee, which degraded water quality in the area, could affect next summer’s numbers.

“We haven’t seen the complete impact of what happened with our water quality,” she said. “A lot of people maybe had not the ideal experience and my concern is will they book a vacation next summer. You know, will they be hesitant to come back because of the water quality they experienced while they were here?”

Water releases have recently slowed as the rainy season ended.