DeSantis mocks Canadians boycotting Florida: 'We continue to break tourism records (and win Stanley Cups)'

Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis has clapped back at remarks by Ontario Premier Doug Ford regarding a boycott of travel there by Canadians, suggesting it’s not hurting his state as much as the premier says it is.

Ford’s comments came Monday at a press conference after a reporter remarked on cross-border tourism having “dried up,” and asked the premier if he planned to go to Florida this year.

Ford said he would not. “It’s going to be the first time I’m not going to Florida.”

He added: “That’s my personal choice. Maybe some families have gone to Florida their whole lives? Go to Florida. You know, that’s great. But I encourage you to stay here and support local tourism.”

Ford noted that some people may be travelling to Florida or elsewhere in America to visit family, and said that was OK.

“But they’re hurting down there right now,” he continued. “They’re hurting on all fronts. They’re hurting on their economy … So it’s taking effect.”

He added: “We’ll keep fighting, and I’ll never apologize to that guy (Donald Trump) ever, ever. Keep giving it to him.” The answer drew a round of applause from those in attendance.

DeSantis’s response on the X social media platform was to post a portion of an August press release from his office with the headline: “Florida Breaks Its Own Record Again: 34.4 Million Visitors in Second Quarter of 2025.”

The release noted: “This all-time high for second-quarter visitation further cements Florida’s reputation as the nation’s premier travel destination. These results are proof of Florida’s enduring draw and the state’s commitment to delivering outstanding experiences for visitors from across the country and around the world.”

DeSantis topped his post with the comment: “Actually we continue to break tourism records (and win Stanley Cups).” Last March, DeSantis had suggested that Canadians were still flocking to Florida, “maybe … to get a glimpse of what a Stanley Cup winning hockey team actually looks like.”

The Florida Panthers won their first-ever Cup victory in 2024 against the Edmonton Oilers, a feat they duplicated this year.

Data from the tourism website visitflorida.org confirms that state tourism was up 0.5 per cent in the second quarter, but that was mostly driven by a surge in overseas visitors. Canada’s 640,000 visitors represented a drop of 20 per cent from the previous second quarter. Canadian visits also fell 16.9 per cent in the first quarter.

The bulk of Florida’s visitors — 69 million of the 75 million total for the half of the year — come from within the United States.

Meanwhile, a new report this month 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.

It noted a decline in passenger vehicles crossing to the U.S. from January to October 2025 of nearly 20 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. That coincides with American businesses in states along the border reporting fewer tourists, more hotel vacancies and lower sales.

Florida tourism numbers from the third quarter are not yet available on the visitflorida site. National Post has reached out for more information.

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