Bluff Point Golf Resort in Plattsburgh, N.Y., has witnessed a significant drop in Canadian visitors, with the number of cars from Quebec and Ontario dwindling from 20 to 30 on a typical day to just one or two.
Owner Paul Dame expressed concern over the impact on his business, citing a longstanding relationship with the cross-border economy now being threatened.
Statistics Canada recently released data showing that Canadian residents made only 1.7 million return trips by motor vehicle from the U.S. in July, marking a steep decline of nearly 37% compared to July 2024.
This downturn in travel comes on the heels of heightened political tensions, notably after President Donald Trump suggested making Canada a U.S. state earlier this year and imposing significant tariffs on Canadian goods.
Many Canadian travelers now appear hesitant to visit the U.S., influenced by both political discourse and the strong U.S. dollar, posing a threat to crucial U.S. tourism revenue.
Supporting this observation, U.S. government statistics revealed that from January to May, Canadians made just over 7 million visits to the U.S., representing a decrease of nearly 17% when compared to the same period in 2024.
The U.S. Travel Association confirmed that there is a consistent decline in travel from Canadian residents to the United States, reflecting recent statistics from Canada.
Leah Mueller, vice president of sales and services at Visit Buffalo Niagara, highlighted how tourism businesses in her region are also feeling the effects, reporting smaller tour groups and fewer passengers on tour boats.
Mueller stated that while the decline isn’t halting activity in the tourism sector, it is nonetheless impacting overall revenue.
Last year, Canadians accounted for 20.4 million visits to the U.S., making Canada the top source of international tourists, as reported by the U.S. Travel Association.
These visits generated an impressive $20.5 billion in spending and supported around 140,000 jobs within the United States.
In a bid to counteract the downturn in tourism, some initiatives have been launched.
In June, Maine Governor Janet Mills visited Canada, actively encouraging Canadian tourists to consider traveling to her state, which had nearly 800,000 Canadian visitors in 2024.
Maine also made efforts to welcome travelers from the north by installing new road signs that read: “Bienvenue, Canadiens!”
Dame has adapted his marketing strategies to target different areas within New York and Vermont to compensate for the loss of Canadian customers.
He expressed hope for the U.S. and Canada to mend their relationship, empathizing with Canadian visitors’ reluctance to travel, given the emotional consequences of political attacks.
“It’s a very personal situation. They’ve been attacked personally, and it’s emotional,” Dame remarked.
He added, “It’s something that we would react the same way if the opposite was happening to us.”
The future of cross-border tourism remains uncertain, but the current trends underscore the complexities of political relationships and their direct impact on economic realities.
image source from：npr
