Trade tensions mean fewer Canadians flocking to South Florida
asserted
tensions → mean → Florida
Beside the palm trees on the campus of Richard's Motel in Hollywood, Fla., are a life-size fiberglass Canadian moose and signs welcoming Canadians.
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moose → welcome → Canadians
Typically, fall weather brings a community of French Canadians to the property, which owner Richard Clavet has nicknamed "Little Quebec."
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Clavet → bring → which
But Clavet, a Quebec native himself, said the trade war between the United States and Canada that began last year brought a flurry of cancellations.
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that → say → cancellations
Some guests feigned illness.
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guests → feign → illness
But one caller was blunt, blaming politics.
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caller → blame → politics
Clavet tried to talk him into coming.
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Clavet → try → him
"You have a $1,000 deposit already paid, you know — you're turning that down if you're not coming.
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you → have → that
At least postpone it or do something," Clavet recalled telling the guest.
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Clavet → postpone → guest
Clavet said the caller replied, "No, I'm not going in the U.S. anymore."
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I → say → U.S.
The United States has long been Canadians' top travel destination, according to data from the Canadian government.
uncertain
States → accord → government
But tensions over trade deals brought a noticeable drop in visitors, one that is acutely felt in this South Florida community.
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that → bring → community
On top of the trade disputes, a weak Canadian dollar and new screening and identification requirements at the U.S.-Canada border also played a role.
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dollar → play → role
By the summer of 2025, Clavet got worried.
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Clavet → get → 2025
He began hosting free parties and bingo games to generate buzz.
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He → begin → buzz
Then he saturated his social media with images of Canadians having a great time at those events.
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Canadians → saturate → events
It paid off, he said, and this year's bookings are strong.
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bookings → pay → ?
"This year I've got a lot of them coming in October," Clavet said.
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Clavet → get → October
"I'm, like, a little freaking out — it's too many."
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it → freak → ?
That's not the case down the street at the Curtis Inn & Suites, where owner Jay Gandhi said he worries about this year's snowbird season, which can start as early as October and can last until April.
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which → say → April
Gandhi said he would typically have 60 to 70 Canadian guests during the snowbird season.
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he → say → season
Last year, that dropped to 50, and this year he's expecting about 30 guests.
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he → drop → guests
The decline in visitors from the Great White North is also reflected in the number of nonstop flights between Canada and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
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decline → reflect → Canada
According to Visit Lauderdale, Broward County's official marketing arm, the number of flights declined beginning in April of last year, with flights down about 7% for that year and nearly 9% in the first six months of 2026.
uncertain
number → accord → 2026
That tracks with a survey last year by the website Snowbird Advisor, which offers resources for Canadians who travel abroad.
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who → track → Canadians
It polled some 4,000 members and found a 12-percentage-point decline in the number who planned to spend the 2025-2026 winter season in the United States.
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who → poll → States
Meanwhile, Snowbird Advisor President Stephen Fine said he has seen an uptick in travel to other countries.
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he → say → countries
"We're seeing an increasing number of snowbirds going to Central America," he said.
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he → see → America
"We're also seeing growth in the Caribbean."
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We → see → Caribbean
For now, Fine said, the United States is still Canadian snowbirds' top travel destination.
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States → say → ?
The Aporia
