Florida, US no longer friendly places
A recent headline in Sarasota Herald-Tribune asked whether tourism is “drying up” in Sarasota.
According to data, tourist spending in Sarasota was down $9.5 million and the number of visitors decreased by 14,000 since September 2024.
Meanwhile, another recent Herald-Tribune headline reported that Publix has lowered the price of its shares despite the fact that its stock has increased 13% since Nov. 1, 2024.
Guests at The Bay in downtown Sarasota watch the sunset on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, during the park’s third anniversary community celebration.
I found it interesting that neither article mentioned that a possible reason for this could be that the United States and Florida no longer seem like friendly places to visit.
For example, Canadians were hurt and insulted during President Donald Trump’s first round of tariff threats which resulted in a 35% tariff on most Canadian goods, a 50% duty on steel and aluminum and a 25% tariff on automobiles and parts not built in the United States.
More recently a petulant Trump threatened an additional 10% tariff after a Canadian anti-tariff ad quoting former President Ronald Reagan was aired during the baseball World Series.
I suspect that many of those 14,000 who did not visit Sarasota this year were Canadians.
Meanwhile, the decision by Publix to lower stock prices comes after its October announcement that all Publix stores in Florida would allow open carry of guns – even though other grocery store chains and business owners have chosen not to allow open carry.
That corporate decision has made national news.
More: Publix deserves thanks for open carry policy | Letters
Since then I have spoken to many who – like me – have called, emailed or gone in person to their local Publix stores to express their dismay and to state that they would no longer shop there.
I suspect that many of the 14,000 who did not visit Sarasota this year were people who did not relish seeing – or preparing their children to see – armed private citizens on our streets or while shopping at Publix stores in Florida.
Karen Curlin, Lakewood Ranch
More: Herald-Tribune: How to send a letter to the editor
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida, America no longer seem friendly places for tourists | Letters