Florida’s governor touts record tourism after Premier Ford criticizes state economy

Premier Ford's Stance on Florida Travel

• 🚫 Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced his personal choice to boycott his usual winter vacation to Florida, encouraging Canadians to support local businesses instead.
• 📉 Ford criticized Florida's economy, stating it was "hurting down there right now" and linked it to low public opinion ratings for President Trump.

Governor DeSantis's Rebuttal

• 🚀 Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded on social media, asserting that Florida continues to "break tourism records" and referenced the Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup wins.
• 📊 DeSantis's office reported a record-breaking 34.4 million travelers in the second quarter of 2025, marking an all-time high for that period.

Nuances in Tourism Data

• 🇺🇸 While the majority of visitors were domestic American travelers, overseas travel saw an 11.4% year-over-year bump in the second quarter.
• 🇨🇦 Despite overall growth, data revealed a 20% year-over-year decrease in Canadian travel to Florida during the same quarter, with Stats Canada also showing a general decline in US-bound trips.

Factors Affecting Canadian Travel

• ⚠️ A travel expert suggested that a "trade war" and the increasing difficulty of obtaining insurance due to successive hurricanes and floods are significant factors deterring Canadian snowbirds.
• 🏠 Some Florida real estate agents have reportedly stopped accepting properties from Canadians due to an influx of those trying to sell, indicating a shift in Canadian winter destination preferences.