A sign welcoming travellers to Florida stands at the state’s visitor centre along Interstate 10 in Pensacola, greeting people as they arrive. Shutterstock
A growing drop in Canadian travel to the United States has started to affect popular destinations, especially in Florida. New figures show that trips back from the U.S. fell by 7.6% in March 2026 compared to the same time last year. This steady decline suggests that fewer Canadians choose the U.S. for travel.
Florida, long known as a favourite spot for Canadian visitors, now feels the impact more than most places.
Florida Reaches Out to Canadian Travellers
Tourism officials from Florida recently travelled to Toronto to reconnect with Canadian travellers. They hosted an event to promote the state and remind people that it remains open and welcoming.
Bryan Griffin, CEO of VISIT FLORIDA, shared his thoughts during the event.
"Events like the one we hosted today enable us to stay connected, share new travel opportunities, and keep Florida top-of-mind for Canadians. There's a ton happening in Florida this year, and it's a great time to visit the Sunshine State," Bryan Griffin told Travel Market Report Canada.
Officials highlighted new attractions, including additions at LEGOLAND Florida Resort and a new marine project in Pensacola. They hope these updates will bring back visitors who chose other destinations in recent months.
Sharp Drop in Canadian Visitors
Recent data shows that Florida welcomed 143.3 million visitors in 2025. While overall tourism slightly increased, the number of Canadian visitors dropped.
Only 2.9 million Canadians visited Florida in 2025, compared to more than 3.2 million the year before. This means the state lost roughly 500,000 Canadian tourists in just one year. Compared to 2019, Canadian visits have fallen by nearly 29%.
Canadian travellers still make up an important share of Florida’s tourism, but the drop has raised concerns among local businesses.
Economic Impact Starts to Show
Tourism plays a major role in Florida’s economy. In 2024, visitor spending supported about 1.8 million jobs across the state.
With fewer Canadians travelling, some communities have already felt the effects. In central Florida, the city of Lakeland cancelled a long-running event aimed at Canadian visitors due to lower interest and reduced business support.
Airlines have also started adjusting their plans. Air Transat cancelled several routes to Florida this summer, including flights to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.
Other U.S. Destinations Face Similar Challenges
Florida is not alone. Nevada, especially Las Vegas, has also reported fewer Canadian visitors.
Las Vegas saw a 7.5% drop in overall visitors in 2025. Canadian travel to the city declined by about 20%. Tourism officials from Nevada have made multiple trips to Canada to encourage people to return.
Despite these efforts, it remains unclear when Canadian travellers will return in larger numbers.
What Lies Ahead
The United States still remains a popular choice for Canadian travellers, especially during spring break. Destinations like Fort Lauderdale continue to attract visitors.
However, the ongoing boycott has created uncertainty. Tourism officials hope that new attractions and outreach efforts will help rebuild interest.
For now, both Florida and other U.S. destinations continue to watch the situation closely as they work to win back Canadian travellers.
