Ontario Premier Doug Ford's personal decision to skip a Florida vacation this winter has sparked a pointed public exchange with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has robustly defended his state's booming tourism industry.
Ford's Personal Boycott Sparks Debate
On Monday, December 15, 2025, Premier Doug Ford announced he would not be wintering in Florida for the first time, calling it a "personal choice." While urging other Canadians not to let his decision influence their travel plans, Ford made a broader claim about the Sunshine State's economy. "They're hurting down, down there right now. They're hurting on all fronts," Ford stated, indirectly referencing the political climate under U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he labeled a "tyrant."
DeSantis Fires Back with Facts and Figures
Governor Ron DeSantis, known for his active social media presence, swiftly responded on platform X late Monday evening. "Actually we continue to break tourism records (and win Stanley Cups)," DeSantis posted, attaching data to back his claim.
The Florida government released figures showing a record number of visitors in the second quarter (April-June) of 2025. More tellingly, during the peak snowbird period from January to March 2025, Florida welcomed 41.2 million total visitors, up significantly from 37.2 million in the same period in 2024. While Canadian visitors during those months dipped slightly from 1.3 million to 1.2 million, the overall surge from other markets more than compensated.
In the first six months of 2025 alone, Florida saw 75.6 million visitors, putting it on pace to surpass the 143 million visitors recorded for all of 2024. "Florida continues to lead the way as the nation's top travel destination," DeSantis said in an August news release, attributing the success to attractions, weather, and public safety.
A Stark Contrast in Scale
The exchange occurred as Ford promoted tourism in Niagara Falls, which sees a respectable 14 million annual visitors. However, this number is roughly one-tenth of Florida's quarterly traffic, highlighting the vast difference in scale between the two destinations.
DeSantis added a pointed sports dig to his rebuttal, noting that Florida-based NHL teams have won the Stanley Cup four times since he became governor. This contrasts with the decades-long drought for Canadian teams, with the last Ontario win being the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1967.
The core of the dispute reveals a disconnect: while some Canadians may boycott U.S. travel for political reasons, Florida's tourism data indicates it is successfully attracting record numbers of visitors from elsewhere in the world. The decline in Canadian tourists is being offset by global demand, suggesting the economic impact Ford referenced is not reflected in the state's overall numbers.
