Upstate New York, long a favorite road trip destination for travelers from eastern Ontario and western Quebec, is seeing a decline in Canadian visitors amid rising trade tensions and annexation rhetoric. The Thousand Islands, a bi-national tourism hotspot straddling the St. Lawrence River, has been particularly affected.
“Regardless of anybody’s feelings on policy, we can unequivocally say that the rhetoric, tariffs, and widening exchange rate gap are hurting Canadian visitation into the United States,” said Corey Fram, director of the Thousand Islands International Tourism Council.
In February alone, nearly half a million fewer Canadian passenger vehicle trips crossed the U.S. border—a drop reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fram noted that Canadian travelers are expressing frustration on social media, prompting the tourism board to adjust its ad strategy. Canadian visitors typically spend $40 million to $50 million USD annually in the region, and Fram expects a noticeable decline by year’s end.
Meanwhile, the Canadian side of the Thousand Islands is seeing steady bookings. Ross McCarney of Rockport Boat Lines said that while domestic tourism remains strong, he is closely watching potential changes in U.S. travel policies that could impact visitor confidence.
Further east, in the Adirondacks, cancellations have been reported for family trips, hockey tournaments, and group tours. Dan Kelleher, CEO of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, estimates a 40% drop in Canadian-based web traffic and warns that a 20% decline in Canadian visitors could cost the region $12 million USD.
New York, one of the most visited U.S. states, is particularly vulnerable to these shifts. The U.S. Travel Association estimates that even a 10% drop in Canadian travel could result in $2.1 billion USD in lost spending nationwide.
To counteract the downturn, the Thousand Islands International Tourism Council has launched a campaign highlighting the region’s history of cross-border cooperation. “We’ve always worked together here. Reconciliation will start in border communities like the Thousand Islands,” Fram said.
Source: Swifteradio.com
