Tourism arrivals decline in Florida and Cyprus

Tourism sectors in Florida and Cyprus are reporting declines in visitor arrivals.

In Florida, visitation dropped 1.4 percent during the first six months of 2026. Governor Ron DeSantis attributed a significant 14 percent decrease in Canadian travelers to geopolitical tensions and cross-border trade disputes. Domestic travel also saw a 1.3 percent dip, which DeSantis linked to high fuel prices and inflation. However, international tourism rose by 2.2 percent, driven by travelers from Europe and Latin America.

In Cyprus, Deputy Tourism Minister Costas Koumis announced that tourism arrivals fell by 8 percent in the first seven months of the year. The year is projected to end with a 5 percent decline, performing worse than 2024. Koumis noted that the industry faced challenges following a drone strike at RAF Akrotiri and regional conflicts involving Iran and Israel. While monthly declines eased during the summer, officials in Limassol expressed concerns regarding the loss of hotel capacity due to the conversion of small hotels into short-term residential units.