By Valorie A. Crooks and Jeremy Snyder
Every winter, hundreds of thousands of older Canadians spend the winter in the United States. But in recent weeks, we’ve seen many Canadian snowbirds shifting their attention to other matters.
First, stories started to emerge from those who said they would no longer participate in this seasonal migration because of political events in the U.S. Another related concern was the weakened Canadian dollar. This trend has prompted some to consider selling their winter properties in the U.S.
More recently, attention has shifted to the potential for changed border rules to lessen snowbirds’ access to the U.S. for long stays. Snowbirds are concerned about administrative and procedural requirements that may ultimately make cross-border travel less convenient.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some Canadian snowbirds experienced challenges crossing into the U.S. for the winter or returning to Canada. Closures of borders to non-essential travel did not dissuade some from planning to winter in the U.S.
Drawing on research in snowbird communities, we found out that affordability and ease of movement are two important enablers of long-stay seasonal travel.
Because of this, it’s not surprising that we’re hearing from snowbirds again in light of recent developments.
Economic and political disruptions
While COVID-era travel disruptions didn’t stop some snowbirds from going south for the winter, the current economic and political disruptions are another story. Florida is a popular destination for Canadian snowbirds. In fact, a 2023 survey named eight of the 10 best American destination communities as being in Florida.
If Canadian snowbirds are talking about cancelling travel plans and selling properties, people in Florida should be paying attention.
Instead, in early March, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis downplayed what it would mean for Canadians to avoid travel to the state. Citing a recent tourism industry report, he noted that only 3.3 million of the 142.9 million visitors to Florida in 2024 were from Canada.
DeSantis went on to say “that’s not much of a boycott, in my book.” But 91.5 per cent of Florida’s annual visitors were from the U.S. This means that the 2.3 per cent of visitors who were Canadian were actually a substantial portion of the states’s international visitors.
DeSantis’s recent comments were also not in line with concerns raised during the COVID-19 pandemic that signalled substantial negative economic impacts for the state if Canadian snowbirds did not arrive for the winter.
Community members
Aside from these economic impacts, something we’ve learned through our years of research with Canadians who winter in the U.S. is that many become vital members of destination communities. From participating in public health outreach programs to volunteering at local hospitals, our research has shown that many embrace opportunities to be active in the places they reside for the winter.
Any drop in the numbers of seasonal travellers going to U.S. destinations will have social costs for communities beyond the quantifiable economic losses.
Many popular U.S. destination communities for snowbirds have health systems that are designed to expand and retract with dramatically different seasonal populations. Our research has observed this most closely in Yuma, Ariz., where entire areas of the main local hospital are closed in the summer and staffed seasonally in the winter.
Additionally, some of the seasonal nursing staff who arrive for the winter are from Canada. Any retreat from these destinations by Canadian snowbirds may have significant implications for health systems and allied sectors. This can ultimately impact the quality of care they can provide to a more limited local patient base.
Intangible impacts
While the economic impacts of the seeming loss of long-stay older Canadians in these communities are important to consider, there will be other — less measurable but no less important — impacts. Just as the long friendship between the U.S. and Canada is now being tested, blended snowbird communities of older North Americans are at risk of diminishing.
Business owners in U.S. destinations spoke up about losses when fewer Canadian snowbirds went south during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some Canadian business sectors and communities discovered opportunities emerging from these shifts in consumer’ movements.
As snowbirds debate whether to navigate new border complexities and return to the U.S. next winter, we must be attentive to the stories behind the numbers to understand the true impacts of their decisions. And as comments made by DeSantis and other politicians have made clear, Canadian snowbirds are now faced with new economic and emotional considerations.
Valorie A. Crooks is Professor in the Department of Geography and Jeremy Snyder is Professor in Health Sciences, both at Simon Fraser University.
Sherry says
We personally have family and dear friends who are Canadian. They are selling their US Winter vacation houses and buying in cheaper/friendlier Mexico.
Maga trump and desantis can’t seem to stop shooting themselves in the foot. They are obviously not looking at the long termed negative effects of “Bullying” with tariffs and treating “everyone” like criminals. There are so many other beautiful places to spend the Winter months. IDIOTS!
Deborah Coffey says
Not to mention Denmark, Finland, France, Germany and the UK that have also put out travel advisories to the United States.
Al says
What were the negatives of them not coming here?
Laurel says
Well, we can’t be trusted anymore. Who wants to get involved in our unpredictable chaos? That’s no vacation. I think we are going to feel it.
Too bad. I love Hollywood, it’s a great place to stay. The hotels are legendary. I have a “bow tie” tile from the original Fontainebleau in Miami Beach! Many of the hotels in the area have been revamped, or flat out rebuilt. The water is crystal clear, and accommodations are great. When the Chamber of Commerce states that the beaches around Flagler are “unparalleled” I wonder what they are thinking!
I think more visitors than Canadians will bypass us. The Caribbean awaits them.
jake says
Over reaction to a small problem. Canadians have been coming south for decades, regardless of the ecomony at the time. They came during the Jimmy Carter era, and they came during the Biden era, and all in between. This won’t stop them.
Jeff M says
The I-94 form Canadians are now required to complete it same fairly minor bit of online paperwork that all other international visitors (that stay past 30 days) have always been required to do. Why should they be special? They’ve always made a very strong point they are not Americans. Why should they have ever received special treatment? Our British visitors who own homes here and stay for months never got it. Somehow it doesn’t bother them to fill out a form.
Thomas Rycroft says
I’ve lived in Florida all my life. The first half in Fort Lauderdale, the second half in Melbourne beach.
I say great if they don’t want to come to the USA for winter…
That means I would actually be able to find a camping spot in my own State…
Also, free up some Real Estate…
Paul says
Good! Don’t come back! You are not wanted! Take your Circle K with you.
Hamburger Helper says
Ask the Management of the Hammock Beach Resort as to the extent of lost revenue which has occurred since the election of the Trump/DeSantis dynamic duo. This does
not bode well for their bottom line.
Greg says
Lived on Florida all 45 years of life. We don’t want Canadians here!
Frank F says
Crossing the U.S. Border requires proper identification, so I see no problem with our Canadian neighbors vacationing here. Obviously with no vetted identification, no access. What is the price?
Ed P says
If the weak Canadian exchange rate vs the U.S. dollar improves even marginally, all will be forgiven and this outlandish prediction will be like many others before it. WRONG.
Canadian currency is receiving a more beneficial exchange rate in the following vacation meccas: Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia.
Guess they will feel safer there as well?
Classic grasping for a reason to criticize the GOP.
Local double taxpayer says
I was in the UK for 10 days 2 weeks ago. Talked to several couples who were vacationing in Florida this summer. They had nothing bad to say and were anxious to get here. All these travel warnings are just political all other countries put steep tariffs on us now it’s our turn.
RobdaSlob says
As soon as I heard Canadians would not be coming to the US because of the political rhetoric I figured a better part of Florida would stand up and cheer. One of the biggest mistakes visitors can make is not take care of the locals.
Having funded a better part of my college expenses working in restaurants in the Daytona area I quickly learned that Canadians were the worse customers, rude, cheap. There’s a reason why everyone embraces bikers and cringes when Canadians walk in.
I spent 10 years of working career employed by a Canadian company where they treated their US division as red headed step children. In addition to their bully management style, I watched them get sued and fined for their corrupt business dealings. Never could have been happier to leave.
Now I deal with Canadian government officials – I would in general characterize them as a country that uses their system to block product (whether from the US or elsewhere) in any means possible from entering their space.
Also remember the US and Canada have almost as much history of not getting along as we have in getting along. It wasn’t until WWI and the Halifax incident that we started to really come together.
So while I am no fan of Trump, and I am no fan of how he chooses to message things, I won’t shed a tear if Canada walks away from us.
Kenneth Brown says
I’m in Delray Beach, Florida and if they decide not to come to Florida that free’s up parking at my favorite beach, less auto traffic and waiters/waitresses in restaurants don’t need to worry about Canadian non tippers.
Also more tee times will be available at our golf courses for residents of Florida. I’m happy if they don’t come
Nana says
You want to come over and play, you have to do your paperwork. If you like it, don’t come. God bless America.
Karen K. says
Since more Americans are retiring and are looking for homes, rentals and campgrounds, it has become more difficult and in some places, impossible to find affordable availability. Less Canadians taking advantage of our State of Florida is actually good news. Little effect, if any, will be felt as Americans live quite similarly and spend just as freely.
Atwp says
If they want to come and cause no problems, why not.
Deborah Coffey says
Well, this article certainly brought the haters out in force. If this kind of hate and bigotry, turned on our very good Canadian neighbors, then the United States is headed for civil war. A country that has almost half its population filled with lovers of Fascism and the other more than half filled with love for Democracy…cannot survive peacefully. According to American historians, when the MAGA Fascists realize they are on the losing end, the violence will begin.
Curt B. says
As an American if I want to go to Canada for 6 months to visit I have to do paperwork for a visitor visa, pay a fee for said paperwork, prove I have the finances to stay that long, and so on ,and so on, and so on. They complain about us doing what they have done for years.
Guest says
@Jeff M: Americans visiting Canada only have to show their passports. Maybe Canada will now force them to jump through a few more hurdles before letting them in.
Sucks to be canadian says
Oh stop! Their dollar has tanked big time. That’s not Trumps fault, but they sure blame everyone else but their own government! Who gives a hoot if they don’t come. Sell the property then, so young American families can finally buy a home! I’d rather have our younger generations to catch a break before the damn Canadian snowbirds. No one likes them, so how about we quit lying!
Sherry says
Haters just gotta Hate!
Don’t you get it that Florida’s entire economy is built on “tourism?” Without that tourist income/taxes, how in the world is the state going to survive? Are “you” ready to make up for those lost tourist dollars?
Tammy Cox says
More fear mongering. Florida is swamped with vacationers as it is so no harm no foul if they don’t come.
Jodie Lee Drain says
All this about the poor Canadians and their hurt feelings. Maybe Americans should not visit Canada. Have not seen a single story about a U S. boycott of travel to Canada
Tired of it says
This isn’t about filling out some paperwork. Canadians are deeply offended by trump’s remarks. we will lose millions in tourist revenues. It is easy for them to bypass Florida and go to the Caribbean, where they are welcomed and respected.
Eric Sheehan says
If I were Desantis I would add 30 percent to their property taxes..I would also tax them $2k per month for every month they stayed after the first 30 days. The world is tired of being an open wallet to a country who can’t support themselves. Canadians remind me of The 30 year old living in the basement and is now upset that they have to pay rent.
Kelley says
It’s going to be 82° in daytona beach tomorrow, and life goes on.