Oh-no, Canada!
The number of Canadian tourists and other visitors traveling south into upstate New York plummeted a whopping 21% through the first 11 months of 2025, according to new data from the governor’s office.
Gov. Kathy Hochul released figures as part of her $260 billion budget plan that showed there were 3 million few travelers crossing from Canada into the Empire State – blaming President Trump for his tariff standoff and confrontational stance with the US’s northern neighbors.
The number of Canadian tourists and other visitors traveling south into upstate New York plummeted a whopping 21% through the first 11 months of 2025. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
“The adverse effects on the protectionist trade environment are adversely impacting New York’s economy,” the report out of Hochul’s office said. “Costs to manufacturers in New York have risen directly or indirectly.”
Half of the decline happened during the high tourism months of June through September, with fewer Canadians opting to head south over the large New York border that stretches from Quebec/Montreal province to Ontario.
Toll revenue dropped by $1 million at the Ogdensburg-Prescott bridge that connects St. Lawrence County in New York and Ontario, Canada.
“The State’s leisure and hospitality sector, a key driver of the State economy, has also been negatively affected,” Hochul’s analysis said. “Negative sentiment has reduced border crossings and tourism spending from Canada across the State.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul released figures as part of her $260 billion budget plan that showed there were 3 million few travelers crossing from Canada into the Empire State. Aristide Economopoulos for NY Post
New Yorkers who live in the North Country along the Canadian border said they’ve noticed the slowdown.
“We’ve seen a reduction in Canadian visitors. A lot of casual traffic is down. Canadians were upset,” said James Reagen, who runs a bed and breakfast near the border.
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Historically, the upstate economy is intertwined with parts of Canada. Reagen said he hoped any official protest or boycott from the north was an aberration and things would cool off and get back to normal.
Aside from the tiff over tariffs, he said the thought that Trump wants to make Canada a US territory didn’t help matters.
Hochul blamed the decline on President Trump for his tariff standoff and confrontational stance with the US’s northern neighbors. REUTERS
“The tension hasn’t helped. It’s given Canadians reason to reduce visits to the New York side of the border. It’s spurred a lot of patriotism among Canadians,” he said
Trump, during his speech Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, claimed Canada relies on the US for security and said Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was ungrateful for criticizing him.
The president said the US should control Greenland to build a Golden Dome defense system that would also protect Canada.
“Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements,” he said, referring to the Canadian PM.