Arizona, Florida, And New York Unite To Push Travel Boundaries In The Us With Extended Visa Stays For Canadian Snowbirds To Attract More Visitors And Boost Tourism

Monday, July 28, 2025

Arizona, Florida and New York are pushing nan limits of what’s acceptable arsenic snowbirds from Canada activity to widen their stays successful nan US nether caller visa provisions designed to lure much visitors — and spending — successful nan aftermath of a melodramatic autumn successful Canadian tourism. The spike has besides wiped retired postulation from nan formerly patient visitant travel from Canada, according to nan Visit U.S. Coalition, pinch conveyance entries down 38.1 percent successful Arizona, nan number of booked flights down astir 70 percent successful Florida and New York losing millions successful tourism. Lawmakers successful those states, successful response, person projected expanding nan magnitude of yearly visits for Canadians to arsenic galore arsenic 240 days, beyond nan existent 182-day cap. The reversal is meant to reverse nan descent that sapped much lucrative longer stays and endangered section economies that are rich | successful Canadian dollars. In nan process, nan states dream to fortify relationships pinch Canada, triumph visitors who are sorely missed, and grow cardinal tourism sectors.

Arizona: A Winter Haven for Canadian Snowbirds

Arizona, which has agelong been a favourite destination for Canadian snowbirds, is experiencing a diminution successful visitant numbers, peculiarly from nan bluish regions. In May 2025, Arizona saw a 38.1% driblet successful Canadian conveyance entries compared to nan erstwhile year. The diminution successful aerial recreation from Canada was besides significant, pinch a 24.2% alteration successful Canadian flights. This downturn is mostly attributed to nan rising governmental tensions betwixt nan U.S. and Canada, arsenic good arsenic changes successful speech rates that person made recreation little affordable.

Despite these challenges, Arizona is pushing guardant pinch caller authorities that will let Canadian snowbirds to enactment for up to 240 days per year, an summation from nan existent 182-day limit. This move intends to pull Canadians backmost to Arizona, ensuring they proceed to support nan state’s section economy, which has relied connected Canadian finance for years. With Canadian snowbirds contributing astir $1 cardinal annually to Arizona’s economy, extending nan enactment limit is seen arsenic a important measurement successful maintaining nan state’s tourism revenue.

Local officials, including Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, person emphasized that Canadians are integral to nan state’s economical growth, peculiarly successful communities that trust connected wintertime tourism. “Extending their enactment isn’t conscionable bully for families, it’s bully for Arizona’s economy, particularly successful areas that trust connected tourism,” Kelly said.

Florida: A Top Destination for Canadian Tourists

Florida, different awesome U.S. destination for Canadian snowbirds, is besides facing a important driblet successful Canadian tourism. Advance formation bookings from Canada to Florida for nan April–September 2025 play are down by complete 70% compared to nan aforesaid clip successful 2024. The state’s tourism sector, which has traditionally been bolstered by Canadian visitors, is emotion nan effects of this crisp decline.

In response, Florida lawmakers person backed nan Canadian Snowbirds Act of 2025, which will widen nan enactment limit for Canadian visitors. The authorities is expected to make Florida an moreover much charismatic destination for Canadians, peculiarly retirees looking for a warmer climate. Senator Rick Scott from Florida, who has been a beardown advocator for nan bill, stated that Canadian snowbirds are not conscionable visitors—they are neighbors who lend importantly to nan section economy. “This commonsense, bipartisan measure strengthens nan US-Canada narration and boosts section economies,” Scott said.

With complete 3.3 cardinal Canadians visiting Florida annually, nan authorities hopes to reverse nan downturn by encouraging Canadians to enactment longer. The extended enactment provisions are expected to stimulate spending successful Florida’s tourism industry, supporting sectors specified arsenic hospitality, retail, and entertainment, which dangle connected seasonal visitors.

New York: The Scenic Getaway for Canadian Snowbirds

New York has besides felt nan sting of declining Canadian tourism, pinch separator crossings from Canada down astir 22% successful April 2025 compared to nan erstwhile year. The diminution is expected to consequence successful a nonaccomplishment of astir $4 cardinal successful tourism spending for New York City alone. Hotels, circuit operators, and section businesses that trust connected Canadian visitors person reported important losses, pinch immoderate seeing a driblet successful bookings of up to 40%.

Despite this, New York has introduced measures aimed astatine attracting Canadian visitors back. The Canadian Snowbirds Act of 2025 is expected to make nan authorities a much appealing destination for Canadian retirees. With beautiful destinations for illustration nan Adirondacks, Finger Lakes, and Catskills, New York is poised to use from an influx of snowbirds looking to widen their stay. Senator Chuck Schumer from New York emphasized that nan extended enactment provisions will thief revitalize New York’s tourism industries, particularly successful regions that cater to retirees.

“Extending Canadian snowbirds’ stays will supply a much-needed boost to New York’s tourism sector, helping our section businesses thrive,” Schumer stated. The authorities intends to pull much Canadian visitors by allowing them to walk much clip successful nan state, contributing to existent property markets, tourism-related jobs, and section economies.

Other States: Efforts to Woo Back Canadian Tourists

Other states, specified arsenic Texas, California, and Nevada, are besides grappling pinch nan diminution successful Canadian visitors. However, they are taking steps to make themselves much appealing to Canadians. In California, cities for illustration Los Angeles and San Diego person agelong been celebrated among Canadian travelers, peculiarly for their lukewarm upwind and attractions. In Texas, section tourism boards are moving to make their destinations much charismatic by offering typical promotions and packages aimed astatine Canadian travelers.

Nevada, location to Las Vegas, has besides seen a downturn successful Canadian tourism. The state’s tourism officials are moving to connection discounts and tailored picnic packages to pull Canadians back. However, nan situation remains significant, pinch galore Canadian visitors opting for much affordable destinations aliases choosing not to recreation owed to nan financial load caused by speech complaint differences and rising recreation costs.

Strengthening US-Canada Relations

One of nan cardinal benefits of extending nan enactment for Canadian snowbirds is nan imaginable to fortify U.S.-Canada relations. With complete 1.2 cardinal Canadians visiting nan U.S. annually, nan extended enactment provisions will thief foster person ties betwixt nan 2 countries, benefiting some sides economically. By allowing Canadians to enactment longer successful nan U.S., nan countries tin proceed to build connected their long-standing economical and taste relationship.

Lawmakers person emphasized that this authorities not only benefits U.S. states but besides creates a stronger relationship pinch Canada, 1 of nan U.S.’s astir important trading partners. The extended enactment proviso is seen arsenic a win-win, benefiting some nan U.S. system and Canadian visitors.

Keeping It Fair and Secure

To guarantee that nan extended stays do not consequence successful misuse of U.S. societal benefits, nan authorities includes provisions that prohibit Canadian snowbirds from accessing nationalist assistance aliases seeking employment while successful nan U.S. During their stay, snowbirds will besides beryllium required to support their Canadian residency and either ain aliases lease spot successful nan U.S.

These provisions are designed to support nan integrity of nan U.S. migration strategy while allowing Canadian visitors to walk much clip successful nan U.S., benefiting some section communities and nan economy.

A Win for Local Communities

The extended enactment proviso for Canadian snowbirds is expected to bring important benefits to section communities successful Arizona, Florida, New York, and different states. These states trust heavy connected seasonal tourism, and Canadian visitors person agelong played a important domiciled successful supporting section businesses. With nan caller legislation, businesses successful hospitality, retail, and existent property guidelines to spot an uptick successful income and finance from Canadian visitors.

Arizona, Florida, and New York are extending visa stays for Canadian snowbirds to pull much visitors and boost tourism, pursuing a diminution successful Canadian recreation owed to governmental and economical challenges. This caller inaugural intends to revitalize section economies by allowing Canadian visitors to enactment longer and lend much to tourism-driven sectors.

The Bigger Picture

This authorities represents a broader inclination of U.S. states exploring ways to pull much world visitors and capitalize connected nan Canadian market. The extended enactment proviso for Canadian snowbirds could service arsenic a exemplary for different regions, encouraging akin policies aimed astatine attracting world tourism and boosting section economies.

In conclusion, nan U.S. is taking proactive steps to reverse nan diminution successful Canadian tourism. By extending nan enactment for Canadian snowbirds, Arizona, Florida, New York, and different states are positioning themselves to regain their spot arsenic apical destinations for Canadian visitors. This inaugural is expected to supply a much-needed boost to section economies, fortify U.S.-Canada relations, and group nan shape for early tourism growth.