The numbers tell a story that Miami’s hospitality industry would rather not hear. In the second quarter of 2026, 721,000 Canadians traveled to Florida — down 4.2% from the same period last year. For the first six months of 2026, Canadian travel to Florida was down 13.9% year over year.
Those declines came before the Trump administration’s decision to place tariffs of up to 50% on an array of Canadian products whose value totals $26.7 billion. Canada retaliated with tariffs of its own, which the Canadian government says are dollar for dollar, starting September 8. The phrase “trade war” now echoes across the border.
For Miami, a city that has long benefited from Canadian snowbirds filling hotels, restaurants, and retail stores during the winter months, the timing is particularly difficult. Canadian license tags once visible everywhere on Miami streets are becoming scarcer, and bayfront motels that once flew Canadian flags are seeing fewer bookings from north of the border.
The trend is not limited to Florida. Last year, 4 million fewer Canadians visited the U.S. than in 2024, according to the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Travel and Tourism Office. Canadian visitor spending in New York State alone fell 28%. Tourism organizations across the U.S. are now scrambling to win back Canadian visitors through targeted campaigns.
New York State’s campaign is labeled “NY Loves Canada,” offering discounts at hotels, restaurants, and attractions exclusively for Canadians. Vermont has gone even further, calling its campaign “100% Love for Canada.” Florida has yet to launch a comparable statewide effort, leaving individual businesses and local tourism boards to fill the gap.
The stakes are significant. Canadian tourists represent one of the largest international visitor groups to Florida, contributing billions in spending annually across hotels, dining, attractions, and real estate. A prolonged decline could ripple through the state’s $130 billion tourism economy.
The longer the public dispute goes on, the harder it will be to return to normal dealings with Canadians, observers say. Diplomatic tensions — including talk of Canada becoming a 51st state — have shifted the relationship from one of warm alliance to one of caution and resentment on both sides.
Miami hospitality leaders are watching closely. This winter, the count of Ontario and Quebec license tags will serve as an informal gauge of how deep the chill has become. For now, the outlook suggests a quieter season ahead for one of Florida’s most reliable visitor markets.
Sources: Miami Today, Forbes, U.S. Commerce Department National Travel and Tourism Office
