Industry News
The U.S. Travel Association projects that the United States will welcome five million fewer international visitors this year. Much of this decline stems from growing distrust and negative sentiment toward the country, fueled by President Trump’s recent actions. The drop in tourists—and the revenue they bring—could have dramatic effects on Rocky Mountain towns that rely heavily on international visitation.
Following the rollout of widespread tariffs and rhetoric such as the “51st state” remarks, Canadians in particular have grown increasingly reluctant to travel south. The decline in cross-border travel is especially visible in ski towns like Whitefish, Montana, according to recent reporting from KPCW. Situated just 40 miles south of the Canadian border, the town depends heavily on Canadian visitors, with roughly a quarter of its tourists hailing from the Great White North.
With the Canadian dollar already weak and prices in the U.S. continuing to rise, many Canadians were already on the fence about traveling south, KPCW reports. Recent political actions appear to have made the decision to stay home easier for America’s neighbors to the north. Since tariffs were enacted in March, Canadian tourism to Whitefish has fallen nearly 25%, while Canadian spending is down more than 12%. For a small town built around tourism, losses at this scale ripple quickly through local businesses and the broader economy. Locals are hopeful that visitors from the north will return—or that a surge in domestic travel can help fill the gap—as the critical holiday season approaches.
It amazes me how so many of us American’s will try and blame anything other than the actions of our current president. I was in Whitefish last spring and we traveled to Canada to ski as well. The person from Whitefish was amazed and thought it was a joke when the band at the bar we were at started stating opinions how Canada would never become the 51st state of the US. And the crowd was in full agreement and they were not joking. They were pissed. I also saw tons of Canadian flags at many homes. Never saw that before. He thought they should be honored to become a part of the US. I am glad the crowd never figured out we were Americans.
I’m from Canada but living in the US. I can’t get any of my friends or family to come visit me. I recently wrote a book about this situation: The Beaver and the Bald Eagle, Reflections Along the World’s Longest Undefended Border. Search for it.
The threats of annexation and Trump’s attempts to undermine the Canadian economy are nearly solely to blame. Why are Americans so tone deaf to “reality”? Tariffs and currency exchange rates have very little to do with this.
It’s got very little to do with tariffs or currency exchange rates, it’s almost entirely because of the threats of annexation and Trump’s attempts at destroying the Canadian economy, why are you people in the United States so incredibly tone deaf to “reality”?
Most decisions are economic. Tariffs do not effect travel, in fact it could increase cross border travel as a certain amount of goods are sometimes allowed back with out a tariff. The more likely and real reason is that most currency is losing against the US dollar. This is happening with out any US policy from this administration and is more a result of individual countries poor monetary policies.
Since you are in Jackson for the winter you should look at writing articles about how the Cantillon effect is creating the disparities in the living conditions of the Ranchers who have lived in the valley for generations and the new money coming in to displace them.
Nope. It’s Canadians responding to trumps tariffs policies and 51st state BS. It’s 95% political and 5% the low Canadian dollar.
Hi Patrick, your analysis is wrong. The Canadian Dollar and the Euro are up against the US Dollar since the stable orange genius has started his war against your economy. I changed my travel plans last year and went to Nova Scotia instead of Yellowstone just because of your idiotic president and I firmly believe, many million travellers are making the same choice. For me, the USA is a no go aerea for the next three years.
More likely the ski pass prices are driving out visitors.