Canada-U.S. trade tensions aren't stopping American tourists from visiting: experts

Muriel Draaisma · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 08, 2025 10:07 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 minutes ago

Canadians are rethinking their trips crossed the borderline successful the aftermath of U.S. tariffs, but information shows the tension betwixt the 2 countries is not slowing the Americans down erstwhile it comes to flying north.

Experts, however, accidental immoderate Americans are acrophobic they mightiness not beryllium made to consciousness invited here, fixed the booing of the U.S. nationalist anthem astatine a fig of sports games and the removal of American flags by immoderate Ontario municipalities astatine their buildings.

Andrew Siegwart, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, told CBC Radio's Metro Morning that tourists spent much than $30 cardinal successful Ontario past twelvemonth and Americans marque up astir 20 per cent of that total. But determination are signs that could change. 

"We person immoderate concerns astir the American marketplace close now, a small spot of imaginable softness," Seigwart said. "It's truly important for america to proceed to invited them."

Siegwart said the relation would similar the Doug Ford authorities to summation its spending connected selling Ontario to the U.S. to guarantee those tourer dollars are not lost.

"One of the things that we person been advocating for is for the state to really up its selling walk this year," helium said.

'Elbows up' connected policy, 'arms open' connected tourism

He said Ontario is seen arsenic safe, travelling present is casual to program and the speech complaint is favourable. But the association, tourism operators and the state person to enactment hard to reassure Americans that they are inactive welcome, helium said. 

Americans are alert of the hostility betwixt Canada and the U.S. and tracking events successful the commercialized war, helium added.

"We are each 'elbows up' connected argumentation close now, but tourism operators stay 'arms open' to our American visitors to guarantee that they recognize that they are welcome," helium said.

"The quality of Ontario is that we person a small thing for everyone. We're not a one-trick pony... We're known for our culinary scene, our dynamic municipality experiences, our outdoor adventure. So really, the diverseness is what we person to offer."

For now, however, the numbers of American visitors bash not look to beryllium slowing down.

Canada Border Services Agency information shows small alteration successful the fig of Americans crossing the borderline by aerial successful March this twelvemonth compared to past year.

'This is astir 1 guy'

Tony Elenis, president and CEO of Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association, said 11 cardinal visitors from U.S. travel to Canada annually. He said the anemic Canadian dollar means Americans volition visit. The 2 countries person a long, affable history, helium said.

"The Americans volition proceed to beryllium present due to the fact that it's not astir the Canadians oregon Americans. This is astir 1 guy. That volition not halt them from coming," helium said.

Wayne Smith, prof and manager of the Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Research astatine Toronto Metropolitan University, said the speech complaint volition proceed to gully American tourists.

"With the speech complaint now, it's fundamentally a 3rd off. It's a large woody to travel to Canada close now," helium said. "If you're paying $200 connected a edifice room, that's truly redeeming $60 a night. That's a beauteous important savings for coming crossed the borderline and staying successful Canada."