According to the latest report by CBC, Canadian tourists are staying away from the USA.
In the latest data for October, the number of return trips among Canadians travelling to the U.S. dropped by 24 per cent for air travel and by 30 per cent for land travel, compared with the same time last year.
Both US and Canadian media are blaming the drop in tourism on President Trump’s dismissive attitude toward Canada, and his aggressive tariff policy. And while insulting our neighbors and allies is never a good policy, examining whether it actually moves Canadians to stay away from visiting the USA needs to be addressed.
South Florida, and Broward county in particular, is the destination of choice for the Canadian snowbirds. Many of them own homes here, and even more rent them out for the winter. The season is barely a couple of weeks in, yet the roads are already packed with cars sporting Quebec plates. I see plenty of them during my commute, all heading in the direction of the beaches. The beaches are already packed, and on the few cooler days that keep most Floridians away, it’s safe to assume the crowds are our neighbors from the North. Listening in, most of the conversations are in French—confirming exactly where they’ve come from.
The dining scene is getting busy too. Popular restaurants now require reservations in advance—even on weeknights. We learned the hard way last week when we tried to walk into a couple of our favorite spots, only to be turned away because they were completely full.
Snowbird social media groups are buzzing with travel updates. Many travelers say the border issues they feared due to the new U.S. crackdown were greatly exaggerated. In fact, most report smoother crossings than in previous years—and they’re thrilled to be back, far from the cold Canadian winter.
The season in South Florida is as busy as I have ever seen it. Canadians may be staying away from some parts of the country – some harboring resentment to President Trump’s demeanor, and some, perhaps, are deterred by the high prices and the weakened Canadian currency. But Florida tourist economy is not showing any weakness – a good sign that Canadian snowbirds aren’t ready to abandon it quite yet.
If you are coming from Canada, New York, or any other place, to spend a few weeks in Florida, we have seasonal accommodations just for you!
Satinleaf Properties 