Florida’s governor touts record tourism after Premier Ford criticizes state economy

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has responded to Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s pledge to not visit the state and that tourism is down south of the border.

CHCH News asked the Ontario premier on Monday if he plans to go to Florida for the holidays this year as he has done in many years past.

“It’s going to be the first time I’m not going to Florida … That’s my personal choice,” Ford said during an unrelated press conference in Niagara Falls Monday.

“I encourage you to stay here and support local.”

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But the comment that seemed to strike a cord with the Florida governor came a little later.

“They’re hurting down there right now,” Ford said, adding that the Florida economy and U.S. President Donald Trump’s public opinion ratings are exceptionally low.

Gov. DeSantis took to social media platform X to reply to the comment.

“Actually we continue to break tourism records (and win Stanley Cups),” DeSantis said in his post.

Actually we continue to break tourism records (and win Stanley Cups). https://t.co/hi2HwUmm6n pic.twitter.com/fTjZkLAKxg

— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) December 16, 2025

According to data from the governor’s office, Florida saw 34.4 million travelers in the second quarter of 2025. Which they claimed to be the highest ever.

Canadians made up 1.9 per cent of the visitors in this quarter.

Data from Visit Florida shows that in 2024 during the same quarter, 2.2 per cent of visitors were Canadian.

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