Fewer Canadians are visiting the United States, according to a report published by Statistics Canada.
In July, 1.7 million Canadian residents drove into the United States. That is 37% less than July 2024.
The drop in Canadian tourism is also reflected in data from the U.S. government. From January to May, just over 7 million Canadians headed stateside, a 17% decrease compared to the same data from last year.
The U.S. Travel Association’s latest figures show “a decline in travel from Canadian residents to the United States, consistent with recent Canadian data released.”
“A 10% reduction in Canadian travel could mean 2 million fewer visits, $2.1 billion in lost spending and 14,000 job losses,” the U.S. Travel Association said.
Relations between the U.S. and Canada have been tense since President Donald Trump imposed harsh tariffs on the neighboring country and said he would make Canada a U.S. state.
On Friday, Canada announced it would remove retaliatory tariffs on several U.S. goods in an attempt to reach a trade agreement, CBS News reported.
In 2024, 20.4 million Canadians visited the United States, topping the list of international tourists into the country, the U.S. Travel Association said. Canadian tourism that year generated approximately $20.5 billion in spending and helped support 140,000 jobs.
WHYY, a local radio station in Philadelphia, said nearly half of the city’s 1.2 million international visitors in 2024 were Canadian. On average, international visitors spent roughly $400 more than domestic visitors and stayed in the city for three days longer.
This year, 12% fewer international travelers are forecast to visit Philadelphia, Tourism Economics said.
Several business owners in states near the U.S.-Canada border told NPR they have seen a steep decline in international tourism in recent months.
“It’s tough, because we’ve developed this relationship with the cross-border economy,” said Paul Dame, owner of Bluff Point Golf Resort in Plattsburgh, N.Y. “And now here we are, the rug getting pulled out from underneath us.”
Maine Governor Janet Mills visited Canada in June to “discuss stronger cross-border economic and civic partnerships.”
Maine also installed signs that say, “Bienvenue, Canadiens!” for southbound travelers headed into the U.S., NPR said.
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