Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has publicly challenged assertions from Ontario Premier Doug Ford that a Canadian travel boycott is significantly harming the Sunshine State's economy. The exchange, which played out in press conferences and on social media this week, highlights a growing diplomatic friction over cross-border tourism.
The Spark: Ford's Personal Boycott and Public Comments
The controversy began on Monday, December 16, 2025, when a reporter asked Premier Doug Ford if he planned a winter trip to Florida. Ford stated he would not be going, marking a personal first. "It's going to be the first time I'm not going to Florida," he said, characterizing it as a personal choice while acknowledging some families might still travel there.
Ford then broadened his critique, suggesting Florida was facing broader challenges. "But they're hurting down there right now," Ford claimed. "They're hurting on all fronts. They're hurting on their economy … So it's taking effect." His comments were met with applause from the audience.
DeSantis's Retort: Records and Championships
Governor Ron DeSantis responded swiftly on the social media platform X. He shared a headline from an August 2025 press release issued by his office: "Florida Breaks Its Own Record Again: 34.4 Million Visitors in Second Quarter of 2025." The release celebrated an all-time high for second-quarter visitation.
DeSantis added his own pointed commentary above the shared data: "Actually we continue to break tourism records (and win Stanley Cups)." This was a clear reference to the Florida Panthers' back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2024 and 2025, both achieved against Canadian teams—the Edmonton Oilers and, previously, another Canadian contender. DeSantis had previously taunted Canadian visitors in March, suggesting they came to Florida "maybe … to get a glimpse of what a Stanley Cup winning hockey team actually looks like."
The Data Behind the Dispute
Official statistics from Visit Florida present a nuanced picture. While overall state tourism did rise by 0.5 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, this growth was primarily fueled by a surge in overseas visitors. The data reveals a significant drop in Canadian tourism: only 640,000 Canadians visited Florida in Q2 2025, a decline of 20 per cent from the same period a year earlier. This followed a first-quarter drop of 16.9 per cent.
The bulk of Florida's visitors—approximately 69 million of the 75 million total for the first half of 2025—came from within the United States, somewhat insulating the state's tourism sector from the Canadian downturn. Third-quarter 2025 figures for Florida were not yet available at the time of reporting.
The impact of reduced Canadian travel is not isolated to Florida. A recent report from the U.S. Senate Democrats’ Joint Economic Committee found that declining Canadian tourism is adversely affecting American businesses in every state along the U.S.-Canada border. From January to October 2025, there was a nearly 20 per cent decline in passenger vehicles crossing into the U.S. compared to 2024, correlating with reports of fewer tourists, more hotel vacancies, and lower sales in border communities.
The war of words between the two political leaders underscores the economic and cultural ties—and tensions—between Canada and popular U.S. destinations like Florida. While DeSantis points to macro-level success, the data confirms a notable retreat by one of the state's traditionally largest international visitor groups.
