**Northern US States Grapple with a Noticeable Decline in Canadian Tourism**
A significant and concerning drop in Canadian visitors is being felt across US border states this summer, creating an economic and social void in communities that have long relied on their northern neighbors. In Vermont, business owners and officials report a stark decrease in Quebec license plates and French conversations in tourist towns like Stowe and Burlington. Data confirms this anecdotal evidence: border crossings from Vermont into Canada were down nearly 39% in July compared to the previous year. Concurrently, Statistics Canada reported a 7.9% plunge in Canadian spending in the US during the first quarter of 2025. This decline is attributed to a soured political climate, with many Canadians citing President Donald Trump’s musings about a trade war and even annexing Canada as the 51st state as reasons for choosing to vacation within their own borders instead. The economic impact is a primary worry, especially for small „mom and pop” businesses whose livelihoods depend on cross-border tourism.
**Communities Launch Heartfelt Campaigns to Woo Back Canadian Visitors**
In response to the downturn, cities and towns are pulling out all the stops to reassure Canadians of their welcome. Heartfelt campaigns have been launched to mend frayed cross-border relations. Visit Rochester, New York, initiated a „Dear Canada” campaign, writing an impassioned public letter expressing how much they miss their neighbors’ sense of adventure. In Burlington, Vermont, the city council passed a symbolic resolution to temporarily rename the city’s main street „Rue Canada” as a gesture of friendship. This effort, spearheaded by City Councilor Becca Brown McKnight, was met with an outpouring of positive responses from Canadians, including a bouquet of flowers in the colors of the Canadian flag. Similarly, Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley has publicly implored Canadians to return, highlighting the significant $3.6 billion they contributed to the local economy in 2024. These actions represent a local attempt to counteract national political tensions that are outside their control.
**Underlying Tensions Suggest a Potential Long-Term Shift in Cross-Border Dynamics**
Despite these welcoming gestures, interviews with Canadians reveal that the issues may run deeper, potentially leading to a lasting change in travel habits. Canadian travelers like Matthew Hall, who owns a business in British Columbia, have canceled trips to the US, opting to explore their own country instead. He expressed a desire for more „stability and sanity” before spending money in the US. For others, the concerns are more personal; a queer and nonbinary dual citizen cited feeling leery of entering the US due to the current social climate. The sentiment is likened to a „neighborly betrayal,” with long-standing friendships and family connections now strained. While Americans and Canadians alike fondly remember the close bonds and shared experiences, the current political landscape has introduced a wariness that symbolic campaigns may not easily overcome, leaving the future of this historically porous and friendly border relationship uncertain.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.
Forrás: https://www.businessinsider.com/americans-businesses-beg-canadian-tourists-come-back-2025-9.