Canadians are growing more fearful of traveling to the United States. Due to COVID, political tensions and climate division fears are exacerbating this pause. Concerns over U.S. law, particularly regarding marijuana, coupled with discontent over former President Donald Trump’s rhetoric about Canada’s economy, have led to a notable decrease in trips across the border. While industry experts may be seeing an alarming reduction in bookings, anecdotal evidence speaks to a rising tide of fear gripping would-be travelers.
Mike Sauer, a resident of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., said he was concerned for his cellphone to be searched by U.S. border guards over a future marijuana buy. Though cannabis is legal in Canada, it’s still illegal under U.S. federal law. Sauer stated, “The States have a different view on drugs. They could certainly look at my phone and see I’m 420-friendly.”
The drop in visits has been highlighted by a handful of shocking and irresponsible events that have captured national headlines in recent weeks. On March 3, U.S. border agents arrested Jasmine Mooney — a Canadian-born actor and entrepreneur — in San Diego, California. This was the incident that raised alarm bells about the treatment of Canadians at the border. She was detained for 12 days before her release, raising the alarm of David Eby, the Premier of British Columbia.
Decline in Travel Bookings
The ripple effect of these occurrences has been obvious across every sector of travel. McKenzie McMillan, a consultant with The Travel Group, reported a notable decrease in bookings to the United States from Canada. There’s fear to cross the border,” she added, pointing to increased fear among travelers.
Lesley Keyter, CEO of the Travel Lady agency, noted that many Canadians are forfeiting money to cancel their planned trips to the U.S. The numbers are overwhelming in favor of this shift. That’s because in March—the first full month impacted by the new policy—land border crossings from Canada fell by over 22%, or more than 910,000 crossings compared to last year.
All of that has become far more complicated by inhospitable political dynamics. Many Canadians feel insulted by President Trump’s continued attacks on their economy. Perhaps even more frustrating than his lack of remorse is his cavalier dismissal of the state’s tourism bust. “There’s a little nationalism there I guess, perhaps. It’s not a big deal,” he stated in response to concerns about reduced travel.
Personal Stories Reflect Wider Concerns
It’s the personal, individual experiences of Canadians that tell us the larger story about the meaning of these changes. Diane Bellamy and her husband canceled their trip to the U.S., opting instead for a vacation in Mexico due to fears tied to Trump’s trade war with Canada and border uncertainties. Bellamy admitted, “I never thought I would hear myself say that.”
Detroit native and frequent visitor Dietra Wilson echoed those thoughts. She was recently not allowed to come across the border because of Trump’s policies. These personal stories underscore just how directly national politics can impact the choices and lived experiences of people in their communities.
Jean Charest, former Premier of Quebec, advised caution for academics and others with critical views of the Trump administration when considering travel to the U.S., stating, “I don’t know what Americans are thinking, quite frankly. Are they that oblivious?”
Political Reactions and Future Implications
Political leaders at all levels are starting to pay attention to this movement. Eby expressed his concerns regarding the implications of Mooney’s detainment and its impact on Canadian perceptions of the U.S., acknowledging that it “certainly reinforces anxiety that many Canadians have about our relationship with the U.S. right now and the unpredictability of this administration and its actions.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom is trying to do something about it, as tourism continues to slump. He followed this up by announcing a $2 million dollar advertising campaign to woo Canadians back to the state. The campaign is a direct reaction to a highly concerning 12% year-on-year decline in the number of tourists recorded this past February.
Canadians are having to rethink their travel plans these days. It remains unclear how sustainable these trends are or whether political relations will thaw enough to restore confidence in traveling across the border. If current sentiment is any indication, U.S.-Canadian travel will continue to drop. A significant breakthrough on political relations or border policy would be required to reverse this trend.