Canadians' demand for U.S., Florida travel is cratering
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Canadians' desire to visit the U.S. is absolutely tanking, new data suggests.
Why it matters: President Trump's tariffs and insistence that Canada should become the 51st American state is fueling a remarkable rally-round-the-flag effect.
- Canadian patriotism is skyrocketing alongside disdain for all things American throughout the Great White North.
- It especially matters in tourism-dependent Florida, which is among the top U.S. destinations for Canadian travelers.
The big picture: Advance bookings for Canada-U.S. flights in April-September are down over 70% compared to this time last year, per aviation data firm OAG.
- "This sharp drop suggests that travelers are holding off on making reservations, likely due to ongoing uncertainty surrounding the broader trade dispute," writes OAG chief analyst John Grant.
- Airlines are also reducing transborder capacity — a strong signal that they, too, are seeing (or at least predicting) less demand.
Threat level: Just a 10% drop in Canadian travel could lead to $2.1 billion in lost spending and 14,000 jobs cut, per the U.S. Travel Association.
Zoom in: Carriers with flights between Tampa International Airport and Canadian cities cut seat capacity by 12% this month from what officials projected in January, the Tampa Bay Times reported this week.
- Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International had even bigger reductions, per the Times.
What they're saying: "Americans might not realize the depth and intensity of the anger up here," said Toronto resident Larry Milson, one of many Canadians who wrote to Times columnist Graham Brink back in February.
- "I love Dunedin, but I'm not going there this year and maybe never again."
The intrigue: Canadians were a target market for Visit St. Pete-Clearwater's seasonal tourism campaign as the agency sought to attract visitors after hurricanes Helene and Milton.
- Revenue from Pinellas County's tax on hotel rooms and short-term rentals was the highest it's ever been for December and January when compared to the same months in previous years, spokesperson Jason Latimer told Axios.
Yes, but: Collection data isn't yet available for February and March, so the full picture of whether U.S.-Canada relations are impacting local tourism revenue remains to be seen.
By the numbers: Canadians make up about 3% of Pinellas' visitors each year, Latimer said.
- They account for about 2% of all visitors to the Sunshine State, per tourism bureau Visit Florida.