Florida experienced a notable decline in Canadian tourism during the first half of 2026, with approximately 1.68 million Canadians visiting the Sunshine State, a 13.9 percent decrease compared to the same period in the previous year. Visit Florida reported this figure represents about 270,000 fewer Canadian visitors over six months.
The drop in tourism coincides with an intensifying trade dispute between the United States and Canada. President Donald Trump has escalated the conflict by signing an executive order to use the name 'Lake America' for Lake Ontario in official U.S. federal usage, a move Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated Ottawa will not adopt, asserting that 'Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario - then, now and always.'
Trump has threatened a 50 percent tariff on Canadian cars, trucks, and auto parts, effective January 1, in an effort to pressure Canada into agreeing to a new trade deal. In response, the U.S. administration imposed an additional 50 percent tariff on certain Canadian products on August 19, which the White House stated was to counter what it deems discriminatory Canadian trade policies. Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs, matching the U.S. levies dollar-for-dollar on approximately $27.6 billion of American goods, set to begin September 8.
Florida has historically been a popular destination for Canadian travelers, particularly during winter months, with cities like Fort Lauderdale, Sarasota, and Orlando being favored spots. However, the state welcomed an estimated 73.5 million visitors overall in the first half of 2026, a 1.4 percent decrease from the same period in 2025. The decline in Canadian visitors is particularly stark when compared to pre-pandemic levels, with the first half of 2026 seeing roughly 610,000 fewer Canadian visitors than the first half of 2019.
This trend reflects a broader shift in Canadian travel patterns. According to Statistics Canada, Canadian residents made 29.1 million return trips from the United States in 2025, a 25.4 percent decrease from the previous year. Concurrently, overseas travel for Canadians saw a 9.2 percent increase in 2025.
President Trump has previously made geographic renaming a feature of his administration, notably directing federal agencies in 2025 to use 'Gulf of America' instead of the Gulf of Mexico. The White House has indicated that further renaming of geographical features could occur.