Florida beach cities 'ghost towns', local businesses down 30% this summer. Has the Sunshine State lost appeal forever?

[marmar]

Florida beach cities ‘ghost towns’, local businesses down 30% this summer. Has the Sunshine State lost appeal forever?

Vishesh Raisinghani
Sun, August 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM EDT 5 min read


With over 825 miles of sandy beaches, Florida’s reputation as the perfect summer holiday destination has always been considered unshakeable. But this year, some business owners along the coast say the typical summer boom failed to materialize.

"Spring Break, really never happened for us, and then the summer swing, never happened for us," says Kirsten Smail, a marine educator for Dolphin Quest told ABC Action News. “It’s a ghost town,” confirmed Amber Simmons, General Manager at Pirates Pub & Grub. "It's the slowest year we've had since 2020."

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

....(snip)....

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.

....(snip)....

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. ...................(more)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/florida-beach-cities-ghost-towns-190000484.html

[Blues Heron]

1. Who knew Nazi shit was bad for business? Oh well! live and learn morons! Get a brain!

[mainer]

2. Meantime, Bar Harbor, Maine is having one of its best seasons ever

I was just there, and saw license plates from all over the country, plus Canada. Almost impossible to find a hotel room. The streets are packed, Acadia is filled with cars, and you need advance reservations to see Cadillac Mountain.
Maybe Florida's tourism is slumping because people are boycotting Florida in particular.

https://www.pressherald.com/2025/08/15/summer-swelter-gives-a-boost-to-maines-tourism-industry/

[democratsruletheday]

14. ding, ding, DING....

it's a shit hole state with a shit hole Governor and state Government. I'll never spend a dime there. Same with any other red state

[The Blue Flower]

3. This is not a bad thing

Florida's gov has to reap the consequences of his fascist policies.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

6. When you have ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ, what could possibly go RIGHT for Florida?

Florida Tourism is down and perhaps taxes rising, Ronnie D. is going to have a tough time selling Florida this winter.

[bif]

4. DUPE

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220568619

[Jacson6]

5. Well when you scare millions of tourists then they won't come.

The Trumpsters are FAFO.

[kimbutgar]

7. You couldn't pay me to go to a Disneyworld or take a cruise from Florida.

I went to Florida in the early 2000’s and swore to never go again. Wasn’t impressed by that state. And I was still pissed about the 2000 election.

[Coventina]

12. I'm a "Disney Adult" and proud of it! I will NEVER go to Disneyworld

I hate Florida just that much.

It's Disneyland for me.

If I won the lottery, I'd go to to Disneyland Paris.
But, that's not likely.

[kimbutgar]

15. A friend of mine went to Disneyland in Tokyo and said it was awesome

[Coventina]

16. I've heard that too. Maybe I should switch my overseas dream to Tokyo.

[Deep State Witch]

8. Gee, I Wonder Why?

Maybe people have just had enough of the bullshit in Florida?

[mwmisses4289]

9. Well, when you make people feel unwelcome,

of course they won't come.
Maybe over simplified solution, but florida needs to vote out its republicans.

[mainer]

10. Happy to report that Bar Harbor, Maine has "EVERYONE IS WELCOME" signs out

And more than a few "Welcome, Canada!" signs.

[Coventina]

11. I spend one full day in Florida (Miami) and vowed never again.

It is the only place I have ever traveled that made me homesick for Phoenix.

Why anyone lives there by choice I cannot fathom.

[mentalsolstice]

18. Some of us live here by choice because it's home.

I’m a FL native, born and raised. Sure I hate the politics. However, I love my home, the flora and fauna, salty sea breezes enjoyed from my deck, abundant seafood and even the crazy behavior of the people here. Maybe it wasn’t for you, but I can’t imagine living in a desert….I’ve enjoyed visits out west, but I wouldn’t want to be stuck there full time. Live and let live!

[Coventina]

19. Oh believe me, I hate it here in Phoenix as well.

I was born and raised in Seattle, and have wanted to move back since my parents dragged me here to Phoenix as a teen.

I tried to go back a number of times, but between the outrageous cost of living, and some personal family events that brought me back to Phoenix, I've never been successful.

Between Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks, and Costco, there is no more affordable housing in Seattle.

[TnDem]

13. Canadians are not back yet

They don't start arriving much until November or so...They can only stay 6 months per their health insurance rules.

I just got back from the Tampa area and the traffic was NUTS down there...Bumper to bumper all day, every day to the beaches at Clearwater, Treasure Island and Anna Maria. No slowdown I have seen.

[Aristus]

17. Florida never had any appeal, if you ask me.

But I know I'm in the minority.