In a speech this month, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, clearly troubled by the import tariffs imposed by President Trump and his threats to make Canada “the 51st state,” suggested that Canadians may individually respond to the affronts from the neighboring country.
“Now is also the time to choose Canada,” Trudeau said, adding: “This may mean changing your summer vacation plans to stay here in Canada and explore the many national and provincial parks, historic sites, and tourist destinations that our great country has to offer.”
According to the U.S. Travel Association, a nonprofit group representing the U.S. travel industry, Canadians made 20.4 million visits to the United States last year and were responsible for $20.5 billion in spending. A 10% decline in Canadian visitors would equate to a loss of $2.1 billion, the group said.
“We’ve seen people starting to pull away and avoid the U.S.,” said Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO of WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, to The New York Times. “We’re also seeing an increase in bookings to Mexico, the Caribbean, and other destinations outside the U.S.”
Mark Galardo, vice president of Air Canada, the country’s largest airline, told the publication that it would adjust its schedule starting in March.
“We’re forecasting that there may be a slowdown,” he said in a statement.
Florida, California, Nevada, New York, and Texas are the U.S. states most visited by Canadians. These states may experience declines in revenue in their retail and hospitality sectors due to a Canadian travel boycott, according to U.S. Travel.
Tariffs and Dollar
The Canadian dollar is weak compared to the U.S. dollar. The reluctance to travel to the U.S. has been exacerbated by the announcement regarding import tariffs. On Thursday (27), President Trump stated that the tariffs would take effect on March 4, after a one-month delay.
Source: The New York Times