Things To Do In SW Florida

Florida attracted a record 143.3 million visitors last year, up 0.2% from 2024, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office has announced.

The preliminary estimate is bolstered by domestic tourism, which accounted for 91.5% of the travelers. The 131 million domestic visitors was up 0.3% from 2024.

Overseas travel was up 4% on the 2024 figures, with nearly 9.3 million visitors.

But the 2.9 million Canadian visitors for all of 2025 marked a 14.7% drop from 2024.

Last month, tourism leaders in Florida said they were expanding efforts to draw Canadians, where the U.S. has seen a travel backlash over the words and actions of President Donald Trump, from tariffs to calling the U.S.’s northern neighbor the 51st state.

“We’re doing what we can, just as we are with any country outside the United States, to make sure that visitation remains strong,” Visit Florida President and CEO Bryan Griffin said during an executive committee meeting on Jan. 26.

Friday’s release from DeSantis’ office stated that the Canadian visitation remained “consistent with historical trends where Canadian travel represents approximately two percent of total visitation.” read more

Winter storms in the northeastern United States have caused travel headaches in Florida, with airports in Orlando, South Florida and Tampa ranking among the highest in the nation for canceled flights Monday.

By 2 p.m., Orlando International Airport had 122 cancellations and 55 delays for outgoing flights as well as 126 cancellations and 36 delays for incoming flights, according to the tracking website FlightAware.

Orlando led the way among Florida airports amid the more than 6,000 flights canceled nationwide as heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions slam the northeastern seaboard.

Fort Lauderdale International Airport had 95 outbound and 103 inbound cancellations, Miami International Airport had 69 outbound and 72 inbound cancellations and Palm Beach International had 62 outbound and 63 inbound flights canceled. Tampa International had 55 outbound and 62 inbound cancellations.

New York’s JFK and LaGuardia airports led the nation with more than 1,000 cancellations each, including both inbound and outbound flights, with Boston’s Logan International, Newark Liberty International and Philadelphia International coming up behind. read more

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve governor Christopher Waller said Monday that solid job gains in January could mean the central bank can skip a rate cut at its next meeting in March, a decision that would likely spur further attacks by President Donald Trump.

At the same time, Waller said last month’s pickup in hiring, when employers added a more-than-expected 130,000 jobs, could have been a one-time gain. He said he would need to see a similarly positive report next month to conclude the job market, which he noted was very weak in 2025, is improving.

Related Articles

Mr. Clean retires after 68 years as company mascot

Domestic travel drives record Florida tourism in 2025

Cancellations pile up at Orlando, other Florida airports because of northeast storms

After Supreme Court rebuke, Democrats call for government to refund billions in Trump tariff money

‘Your Rich BFF’ Vivian Tu shares her favorite personal finance tips read more

By JOSH BOAK

WASHINGTON (AP) — A trio of Senate Democrats is calling for the government to start refunding roughly $175 billion in tariff revenues that the Supreme Court ruled were collected because of an illegal set of orders by President Donald Trump.

Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire are unveiling a bill on Monday that would require U.S. Customs and Border Protection to issue refunds over the course of 180 days and pay interest on the refunded amount.

Related Articles

France moves to bar US Ambassador Charles Kushner from direct government access

Federal court rejects GOP-led Utah Legislature’s latest try to block House map that helps Democrats

Never Trump Republicans are still issuing dire warnings. Is anyone listening?

Supreme Court agrees to hear from oil and gas companies trying to block climate change lawsuits

Judge blocks release of special counsel Jack Smith’s report on Trump classified documents case read more

By ADRIANA MORGA

NEW YORK (AP) — Are you intimidated by personal finance? Vivian Tu wants to help.

Related Articles

• 
  Mr. Clean retires after 68 years as company mascot

• 
  Domestic travel drives record Florida tourism in 2025

• 
  Cancellations pile up at Orlando, other Florida airports because of northeast storms

• 
  Fed’s Waller says rate cut in March is a ‘coin flip’ following a strong US jobs report

• 
  After Supreme Court rebuke, Democrats call for government to refund billions in Trump tariff money

Tu is known for her TikTok account, “Your Rich BFF,” where she makes entertaining videos about personal finance. Topics include how to negotiate your salary and practical tips for dealing with credit card debt. Tu, who refers to herself as “your favorite Wall Street girly,” has 10 million followers on social media and has published two personal finance books.

Tu, born and raised in Baltimore, often connects her interest in personal finance to her upbringing as the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Her parents raised her to be frugal and appreciate money from an early age, but it wasn’t until a few years into her corporate career that she realized she had a passion for the topic. read more