Florida welcomed 41.2 million visitors in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, picking up from a record-setting year and putting to rest some concerns of a national backlash amid domestic tariffs and global trade uncertainty.
“Florida’s tourism industry leads the nation,” DeSantis said in a release. “These results are proof that our freedom-first policies work—and that Florida remains the best place to visit, work, and raise a family.”
Here are some numbers in Q1 for Florida via the release:
- Recorded 91.9% domestic visitation, with 37.9 million domestic travelers, up 0.2% from Q1 2024
- Welcomed 2.1 million overseas visitors and 1.2 million Canadian visitors, making up 5.1% and 3.0% of total visitation, respectively
- Domestic non-resident visitors: 35.8% came by air, 64.2% by non-air travel
- 29.4 million total enplanements at Florida’s 19 major airports. They include Punta Gorda
- (+23.6%), St. Petersburg–Clearwater (+7.7%), and Daytona Beach (+7.4%)
- A +2.4% increase in hotel rooms sold, Average Daily Rate (ADR) also increased to $227.22 (+2.2%), and occupancy reached 75.7% (+1.6%)
Florida's visitation figures pick up on its strong year from 2024, when the state recorded 142.9 million visitors, a 1.7% increase from the previous record set in 2023. Specifically, the Sunshine State drew 130.65 million domestic travelers, 8.94 million overseas visitors, and 3.41 million Canadian tourists.
It comes even as tensions between the United States and Canada continue over tariffs. Adding fuel to the fire, President Donald Trump mocked Canada into becoming America's 51st state and called former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau the governor of the Great State of Canada.
Despite the uncertainty, Florida saw a 0.5% increase in Canadian air visitation from the previous year. The state also saw significant jumps from the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Argentina.
