Canadian travel pullback hits U.S. tourism, with Florida visitors down 14%

  • Canadian travel to the United States has fallen amid trade tensions, with Florida reporting a 14% decline in visitors during the first half of 2026.
  • Tourism Economics projected a $2.35 billion U.S. economic loss in 2025 and identified 15 jurisdictions with Canadian visitor-spending losses above $11 per resident.
  • Florida remained especially exposed because Canada was its largest international market, despite more than 90% of first-half 2026 visitors arriving from elsewhere in the United States.

Canadian leisure travel to the United States has declined amid tariffs, retaliation, political tensions and a grassroots boycott, creating projected 2025 losses of $2.35 billion for the U.S. economy and continued disruption in 2026. Tourism Economics identified 14 states and Washington, DC, where projected Canadian visitor-spending losses exceeded the national average of $11 per resident, based on 2025 forecasts compared with 2024 spending and U.S. Census Bureau population data. Florida, one of the most exposed traditional destinations, recorded an estimated 1.68 million Canadian visitors in the first half of 2026, down about 270,000, or 14%, from a year earlier, following a nearly 7% decline in 2025. The decrease contributed to a 1.4% fall in Florida’s total visitors after a record year, although more than 90% of its 73.5 million visitors in the first half of 2026 came from elsewhere in the United States. Canada remained Florida’s largest international market. Statistics Canada said Canadians made roughly 25% fewer trips to the United States last year and spent about $2.3 billion less. The pullback is affecting lodging, dining, retail, entertainment, small businesses and seasonal employment, while trade retaliation also threatens U.S. access to Canadian energy and critical minerals, wine exports and integrated auto manufacturing supply chains.

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