Canadian Snowbirds Increase U.S. Visits

The number of Canadians visiting Florida during the winter of 2000-2001 increased from 8 to
9 percent, according to Joe Striska, president of the Florida Association of RV Parks and
Campgrounds. Meanwhile, the number of Canadians visiting Arizona was “up slightly” last
winter, said Matt Bloom, spokesman for the Arizona Office of Tourism. In California,
Canadian snowbird travel last winter about equaled that of the winter of 1999-2000, said
Ron Medenwald, past president of the California Travel Park Association. The increase in
visits by Canadians to Florida and Arizona reversed the negative trend that existed during
much of the 1990s when the Canadian dollar lost purchasing power in the United States, and
the Canadian government reduced the amount of medical insurance available to its citizens
while they were visiting in the United States. Ontario, Canada’s most populous province,
recently increased the amount of medical coverage available for its residents while they
are visiting in the United States.