On both sides of the Canada-US border, various data are reported regarding the number of Canadian visitors to Florida and the United States. Here are the most recent figures published for 2025, along with observations and predictions for 2026 and the future of the Canadian presence in Florida.
Visit Florida
The Florida State Tourism Marketing Agency, Visit Florida, estimated that the Sunshine State welcomed 507,000 Canadian visitors between July and September 2025, compared to 597,000 in the third quarter of 2024, representing a 15% decline.
In the first nine months of 2025, Florida welcomed a total of 109.8 million visitors, 0.1% more than in the same period in 2024. Domestic travel increased by 0.1%, overseas travel by 4.5%, while Canadian travel decreased by 15.5%.
Statistics Canada
Canada’s national statistics agency reports on its website that the number of US residents traveling to Canada in October 2025 was up 3% from 2024, but the number of Canadian residents crossing the border was down 26.3% from the previous year. While Canada saw an 11.7% increase in foreign visitors during the same period, the number of Canadians traveling abroad also increased by 9.1%.
Slight increase in tourism
According to WUSF, even though Canadians traveled less to the United States, Florida still saw a slight increase in tourism in the third quarter of 2025 compared to 2024.
According to figures from Visit Florida, 34.3 million people visited the Sunshine State between early July and late September 2025, compared to 34.2 million during the same period in 2024.
Visitors from other US states accounted for 31.45 million visitors in the third quarter of 2025, compared to 31.37 million in the third quarter of 2024.
Broward County popular with Quebecers
According to Travel and Tour World magazine, the cities of Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa, as well as the Florida Keys, are among the most popular domestic destinations, attracting more domestic travelers thanks to “their luxury, family attractions, and year-round appeal.” These Florida cities are also popular with Quebecers, but La Presse reported that passenger traffic from Montreal-Trudeau International Airport to Miami decreased by 26% during the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, by 24% to Tampa and by 15% to Orlando. In contrast, the decrease to Fort Lauderdale was only 2.3% for the same period, reflecting the high concentration of Quebecers in Broward County.
A much-anticipated 2026 season
While businesses in the hotel and restaurant industry saw a decline in Canadian visitors in 2025 throughout the state, hopes remain high for 2026. Businesses in South Florida are anticipating a rebound in Canadian visitors, with some hotels recording numerous reservations for the winter despite the difficulties encountered previously. This is the case for Richard’s Motel, which told the Sun Sentinel that it has “good bookings for this winter.” Other types of businesses are also confirming the presence of Canadians in Florida. We asked Martine Boulay, President and CEO of Natbank, if she and her team have seen an increase or decrease in traffic at their branches since the start of the season: “Since the start of the winter season, traffic in our branches and on our online platforms has been comparable to last year’s, both on the East Coast and the West Coast, which is very encouraging,” she said in a written statement with Sonia Bolduc, VP of Business Development. » This shows that we are maintaining a strong physical presence, while seeing growing adoption of our digital solutions by our customers. »
Real estate market
Ms. Boulay and Ms. Bolduc of Natbank also note that ”Canadians’ interest in purchasing properties in Florida remains very strong. We have had an exceptional year in mortgage financing, which confirms that this market remains dynamic and promising. »
As for trends in the coming years regarding the Canadian presence in Florida, they believe it ”will continue to grow, driven by the desire to enjoy a sunny, accessible lifestyle and an environment conducive to relaxation and leisure. Canadians are looking not only for a second home, but also for an experience that combines comfort, quality of life, and proximity to services tailored to their needs .“
Let’s recall what Sylvia Cesaratto, Consul General of Canada in Miami, told the Sun Sentinel: ”We are also the leading foreign buyers of residential real estate. This is true not only in Florida, but throughout the United States. »
Ms. Cesaratto believes that the United States and Canada will eventually overcome their political tensions: “We will get past this. Overall, Canadians love Florida. Canadians are welcomed by Americans and vice versa. Americans are delighted to see Canadians returning to their condominiums.”
