Florida tourism sees decline as Canadians skip visits amid Trump trade war

26 Aug 2026 • 5:36 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Florida tourism sees decline as Canadians skip visits amid Trump trade war

Tourism from Canada to the U.S. has been impacted across the country amid the Trump administration’s ongoing trade war with its traditional ally.

In Florida, tourism from Canada was down more than four percent in the second quarter of this year, compared with the same period in 2025.

In the first six months of this year, Canadian tourism to the Sunshine State was down nearly 14 percent, according to Visit Florida.

The drop comes as the Trump administration has spent months antagonizing Canada, typically a staunch U.S. ally and major trading partner.

The White House has launched 50 percent tariffs on Canadian products, and Canada has responded with retaliatory measures, further souring a relationship already under strain from the president’s repeated suggestions the country could become the 51st state.

Researchers in Canada have identified a similar decline.

Canadian visits to U.S. metro areas fell by about 42 percent since Trump took office, experts at the University of Toronto found by analyzing cell phone data. Six of the 10 cities that have seen the largest decline in visitors from Canada were in Florida, according to the researchers, though Myrtle Beach, South Carolina topped the list.

Overall, border crossings into the U.S. from Canada were down by more than a quarter in 2025, compared with 2024, according to the Canadian government.

“Excluding the COVID-19 pandemic period, the resulting 11-month streak of year-over-year declines was the deepest and most sustained on record for border crossings from the United States,” Statistics Canada wrote in July, comparing the drop in travel to the months after the 9/11 terror attack in New York City.

The impact has been felt in major tourist destinations across the country.

President Donald Trump has remained confident the trade war won’t harm the U.S.

In Las Vegas, visits from Canada were down about 18 percent in 2025.

This August, city tourism officials went on a sales mission in Western Canada to bolster demand.

"We're here to make sure you know that we care about Canada," Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Steve Hill said at a kickoff event. "We know that Canada loves Las Vegas. We love Canada right back!"

In New York, meanwhile, Canadian tourism was down 26 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year, while spending from these tourists was down 14 percent from pre-pandemic levels.

“Our tourism economy cannot afford another year of trade wars with Canada that drive away our most important international visitors,” Vijay Dandapani, president and CEO of the Hotel Association of New York City, told The City Reporter. “The federal government must reach a deal with Canada and give travelers a reason to come back. If we fail to act, New York risks losing even more visitors from our number one tourism partner.”

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