Florida depends on Canadian visitors. Will Trump's trade war turn them away?

[Sancho]

https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2025/02/08/florida-depends-canadian-visitors-will-trumps-trade-war-could-turn-them-away-column/

Canadians account for the most international visits to the United States. A 10% reduction in Canadian travel could mean 2 million fewer visits, $2.1 billion in lost spending and 14,000 job losses, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Florida could take the hardest hit, given that more Canadians visit our state than any other. In fact, more than a quarter of Florida’s international visitors come from Canada, the most of any country, according to VisitFlorida, the state’s tourism marketing arm.

The tourism outlook will worsen if the talk turns to action and the two countries slap each other with heavy tariffs. By some estimates, President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs and the expected Canadian retaliation would shrink Canada’s economy by more than 2%. That might not sound like much, but it’s enough to cast a financial gloom over the country. Gloomy residents don’t vacation as much.

Unlike regular tourists, most of the seasonal snowbirds are already here. They usually start coming in November and December and stay until April. Many of them drive to Florida. They come yearly, own property in Florida or have signed rental leases. They have roots here. They might not like Trump’s latest salvo, but they aren’t likely to pack their cars and head home now.

Florida’s near-endless sunshine, 75-degree winter days and gorgeous beaches are hard to pass up. Kids also care much more about meeting Disney’s Mickey Mouse and exploring Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter than the international trade of soybeans or car parts. Those advantages aren’t going away. How will they hold up against the fallout from a potentially heated trade war? We’ll know soon.