Florida beach cities ‘ghost towns’, local businesses down 30% this summer

Angela Wilson from Mad Beach Watersports told reporters business is down as much as 30% for some of her peers.

However, from a bird’s eye view, the Sunshine State’s tourism economy seems as robust as ever. The state welcomed 41.2 million visitors in the first quarter of the year, which is flat from the same quarter last year, according to Visit Florida data.

The disconnect between these headline figures and the experience of business owners comes into sharper focus when you zoom in on the changing tourism mix, not just in Florida but across the country.

A key factor dragging business for some Gulf Coast tourist destinations is the lack of foreign arrivals — particularly from Canada. Canadian visitors, long a lifeline for Florida’s Gulf Coast, are pulling back as diplomatic tensions rise and border crossings plunge. As the Trump administration ramps up its trade war and diplomatic spat, the so-called “snowbirds” from the north are changing their travel plans.

The number of Canadians taking road trips across the U.S. border dropped 37% year-over-year in July, according to Statistics Canada. Air travel was down 26% over the same period. This was the seventh consecutive month of declining tourism from Canada.

As a result, U.S. tourism is becoming more domestic. Nearly 92% of arrivals in Florida during the first quarter were U.S. residents, according to Visit Florida. This could be why some spots that rely heavily on Canadian snowbirds and international travelers are seeing a steep decline in business while the headline numbers for the state’s visitors remains robust.

However, arrivals are only part of the story. Spending is another key factor that could explain why some Florida businesses are facing a dismal summer.

As U.S. tourism becomes more domestic, it becomes more sensitive to the domestic economy. Unfortunately, the local economy continues to struggle with persistent inflation and the highest number of layoffs since the pandemic, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

American consumers are spending less on big-ticket travel items - such as airfare and lodging - in the first few months of 2025 compared to the previous year, according to the Bank of America.

Nearly 31% of U.S. adults said a combination of their personal financial situation and their gloomy outlook for the national economy is having a negative impact on their travel plans this summer, according to Morning Consult.

Squeezed budgets could explain why some beach towns feel like ghost towns even though overall visitor numbers remain strong.

HAHA.

Couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of MAGATS.

Same goes for Las Vegas.

Both places voted in big numbers for Trump.

Both places are experiencing YUGE slumps in their economy.

Make America Great Again, FUCKERS!!!!

Now, suffer because of your vote.

Works for me. I’m happy. We can get restaurant reservations and drive around without fucking rental golf carts clogging the streets. Maybe we can convince them to stay home in the winter, too.

R2 That’s not true about Vegas. Clark county voted Harris/Walz by over 50 percent so I know damn well Vegas, the biggest and most urban entity in the county, voted higher. It probably was in the 70th percentile. Why do people just make up shit online. It’s annoying.

Fine, R4.

But overall, Nevada went red state in 2024.

And the numbers for Clark County (Las Vegas) were much closer than it should have been.

520,187 votes for Harris.

493,052 votes for Trump.

Who wants to go to a desert or a swamp during one of the hottest summers on record?

R5 ok at least you contend that you stated a lie. Shit, should Pennsylvania and Detroit suffer because their states went MAGA? Maybe though, Detroit is kinda insufferable. 😂

I’m from NY. Most of the state north of NYC is solidly red, so dumping on entire states because of the electoral college is pretty lame.

[quote] Florida’s reputation as the perfect summer holiday destination has always been considered unshakeable.

…who the fuck wrote this? Florida has never advertised itself as a summer destination; tourist season has always been December through April since Henry Flagler laid down the Florida East Coast Railway.

[quote]A key factor dragging business for some Gulf Coast tourist destinations is the lack of foreign arrivals — particularly from Canada. Canadian visitors, long a lifeline for Florida’s Gulf Coast, are pulling back as diplomatic tensions rise and border crossings plunge. As the Trump administration ramps up its trade war and diplomatic spat, the so-called “snowbirds” from the north are changing their travel plans.

[quote]The number of Canadians taking road trips across the U.S. border dropped 37% year-over-year in July, according to Statistics Canada. Air travel was down 26% over the same period. This was the seventh consecutive month of declining tourism from Canada.

And Clark county is more than just Vegas so stop making them interchangeable to make the lie you stated minimized . There are like 3 million people in the county. I know Vegas very well and will bet money the precincts in the city went for Harris/Walz in the 65-75%. Thank God NYC got so many fucking people because New York would be redder than the Orange clown’s makeup.

R9 Bravo. The cluelessness in this thread is remarkable.

Ohhh. That explains it. A fucking Indian wrote it.

[quote] Shit, should Pennsylvania and Detroit suffer because their states went MAGA?

A lot of blue cities suffer because the rest of the state is red MAGA.

Miami, Atlanta, Memphis, Nashville, Philadelphia, Columbus, and a lot more.

But yes, those cities must suffer.

There's no choice.

Living in a majority MAGA hellhole is the price they have to pay.

That's why I choose to live in a solidly blue state.

Fuck If I'll be subjected to the whims and dictates of brain dead MAGATS.

R14 😂 well at least your honest. I respect that.

America deserves this. When you vote in a douche who hates in the rest of the world, do you think anyone’s going to visit?

The total number of visitors is one thing, but the behavior and patterns is another. A US family goes to Disney for the weekend. That's four people.

Two retired Quebec couples go to Hollywood Beach for the month of February. Still four people, but much different economic impact.

Also, Miami isn't a blue city anymore.

Who the fuck are YOU kidding R9 ? There hasnt been a 'season' in decades . They come and stay now. The majority dont return up north now. Not talking about Canadians but in general. I grew up in Florida and I well remember after snowbird season everyone was so relieved . Now the streets and everything are crowded as hell and choking with people.

R17 Miami or the county. Miami is red now? Wow. We’re in trouble America.

Sounds like it's working out very well for them

The new Epic Universe theme park in Orlando is doing good business, thanks to its sensational Imelda Staunton ride and this little walkaround cutie.

R18 excuse me, I’ve lived in Miami Beach, we very much still have a season.

This article leaves a couple questions. Its main message is that fewer foreigners come to Florida, but overall visits in Q1 have been flat.

The tariffs came up as a topic in April when Q1 was already done. Foreigners make only 9% of tourists in Florida's summer months. In summer it's always the domestic tourism that goes to Florida's beaches and theme parks when kids have no school. So summer 2025 may see some dip, but not a strong one, at least not from absent foreigners. It's the upcoming fall and winter season they need to worry about. And I'm thinking bookings right now should give us all a clue already. I want to know ,ore about that.

I have no idea how Donna Summer got into my post. There is no walkaround Donna Summer at Universal as far as I know.

I live in San Francisco and commented to my husband today that the tourists are back. It's not like it was in 2015 or anything but there a lot of people here. I own a small business and my sales have been fantastic-knock on wood. We have lots of foreign tourists and they tell me California and New York are the only places in the US they want to visit right now. I tell them that's a good rule of thumb anytime.

R19 the county, but Harris only took Miami proper and even Miami freaking Beach by one point.

Going by memory here, but IIRC correctly Hillary won Dade by nearly 30 points. Biden by ten. But Trump then took it by 10 this time. It's stunning.

SO MUCH WINNING!!

R18 I guess all my neighbors here in Naples have just gone out for a three month drive.

[quote]There is no walkaround Donna Summer at Universal as far as I know.

Give us time.

It's the Cubans, R26. Plus, many Latino males won't suffer to put a woman in charge of anything except cookin', cleanin', and birthin' babies.

Miami is red now?

[quote] R19 the county, but Harris only took Miami proper and even Miami freaking Beach by one point.

Miami has a Republican Mayor too, if I'm not mistaken.

So the city and county are becoming red, just like the rest of Florida.

I think the only blue parts of the state are Orlando and some other counties that I don't recognize on this map. I think it might be Tallahassee, the capital of Florida.

It is Tallahassee, R31. It's funny, because Tallahassee is the capital of Florida, but percentage-wise, it's the most Democratic city in Florida.

With the ongoing mess with Canada’s largest airline, a lot of Canadians aren’t flying anywhere.

There was ever a summer season in Florida?!

Sure, just like the winter season on the Jersey Shore or on Cape Cod.

Who even writes this ludicrous bilge?

R34 an Indian.

R34: foreign tourists would come here in summer due to lower off-season lodgings cost.

Thoughts and prayers

No one is saying the number of tourists in Florida during the summer is zero. There are of course some people traveling there and facing the unbearable heat.

No one can swim in the Gulf [of Mexico!!] anymore in the summer; the outside temperature is 90F + and the water temperature is 90 as well.

Plus, that water is filthy and is often riddled by Red Tide.

I suppose it's possible there were Canadians here in the summer, but I can't imagine why. They're only allowed to stay in the US for six months out of the year -- why would one of the six months be August, FFS?

The link is to Madiera Beach, which if the area they're referring to in the article (which is adjacent to St. John's Pass).

I cannot imagine any foreigner making the mistake twice. I mean sure you can leave your air conditioned vacation rental for a comfortable 7am outdoor breakfast…. then what? It’s hot humid and nasty, that’s what. Even the seawater is too warm and fetid biological things happen at those temps.

Yes, in the summer, the one time you can go to the sunny, sandy beaches of the northeast, doesn't everyone spend their money to travel to sweltering Florida?

I’ve stopped traveling to Florida as much as I used to and it has nothing to do with politics. It’s the cost. Look at the current prices at Disney and the cost of a rental car at MCO. It’s insane.

I’ve switched to traveling to Europe. If I’m spending that kind of money, I’d rather go somewhere new and worthwhile, instead of revisiting Florida for the umpteenth time. I saw a video on TikTok recently of a guy saying the same thing. There needs to be a collapse of the central Florida tourist trade to bring the prices back down to earth.

Also, there’s an increase in cruising. People are traveling to Florida to board a ship, and after spending a week traveling to the Caribbean or Mexico, they return home and skip the local tourist places.

Florida used to be cheap, it was a major attraction--nice homes used to be cheap, too, but that's not true now, either.

Lots of Jack McFarlane posting going on here.

Any reaction from Ronda?

So, local businesses and residents are saying that tourism is way down, and the official state numbers claim that tourism is humming along? And we trust the official numbers because Rhonda is so honest and doesn't cook the books at all...

Who goes to Florida in the summer?

[quote] So, local businesses and residents are saying that tourism is way down, and the official state numbers claim that tourism is humming along?

Both can be true. The article was about tourism being down along the coast. Central Florida could still be humming along with the theme parks.

[quote] Who goes to Florida in the summer?

Mad dogs and Englishmen. There’s a good number of British people who go to Florida in August because they go on holiday that month.

We spent our summer vacations in Florida every year in the 60s and early to mid 70s. Other vacationers from Ohio, Michigan and New York were all around us when we stayed at motels. Clearwater Beach and Pompano Beach were our destinations, but we visited all the "family" attractions in central and south Florida. It was a rite of passage.

During the summer many Florida residents vacation in their own state, especially those from inland who want to enjoy the beach towns they can’t access during season. And where I live we get an influx of Miamians who want out of there on weekends. Also it’s worth mentioning that many towns and cities are cracking down on Airbnbs, requiring 30 day rentals so as not to upset full-time residents.

We have a place in Fort Lauderdale.

Las Vegas is basically a mix of LA and Phoenix.

It's very west coast thinking.

So basically they can’t survive tourism off their own hillbilly asses? Got it! You know some northerners are avoiding that shit too.