MIAMI.- Florida is going through its second consecutive quarter with a reduction in the number of visitors, a slowdown marked mainly by the absence of Canadian tourists, traditionally one of the most important international markets for the state.
About 721,000 Canadian residents traveled to Florida between April and June 2026, a 4.2% decrease from the same period a year earlier, according to Visit Florida estimates.
Approximately 1.68 million arrived in the first half, 13.9% fewer tourists of that nationality compared to the first six months of 2025.
The figures confirm a trend that began before the current period. Florida received 3.17 million Canadian tourists throughout 2025, a reduction of 6.8% compared to 2024 and 22.4% compared to 2019, before the pandemic.
In that year, about 2.29 million had visited the state between January and June alone, about 610,000 more than in the same period in 2026.
A fall that lost speed
The data allow us to observe some recent moderation. If the 721,000 travelers in the second quarter are discounted from the semi-annual total, approximately 959,000 Canadians arrived between January and March.
The comparison with the 2025 records indicates that the contraction was much greater at the beginning of the year.
In other words, the decline continues, but it is no longer advancing with the same intensity recorded during 2025 and the first months of 2026.
This difference coincides with general data from Statistics Canada: April represented the first year-on-year increase in Canadian trips to the United States since January 2025. Despite this improvement, the amount still remained 26.7% below April 2024.
The accumulated setback has a clearly documented political component. Statistics Canada notes that the tariff disputes, along with talk about making Canada the 51st state, fueled informal campaigns to avoid American destinations.
Added to this are the perception of a less welcoming environment and the decision of some consumers to support the Canadian economy, according to opinion polls.
Tourists did not stop traveling
The reduction does not mean that Canadians have given up their vacations. During 2025 they made 7.1 million fewer visits to the United States, but much of that loss was offset by five million additional trips within Canada and 1.3 million more to other countries.
Canadian trips to Europe grew 13.6% and those to Asia, 16.7%. Spending in the United States fell by 3.3 billion Canadian dollars, while spending on leisure trips outside the United States increased by 3.6 billion.
The absence is especially felt in Florida because Canadians tend to stay longer and spend more on accommodations, restaurants, car rentals and shopping. Destinations like South Florida, Orlando and the Gulf Coast have historically relied on those visitors during the winter.
In total, Florida received 34.01 million travelers during the second quarter and 73.5 million in the first half.
Although domestic tourism continues to account for more than nine in ten visits, the prolonged decline of the Canadian market shows that the state’s record of 143.3 million reached in 2025 does not guarantee another year of growth.
