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Canadian tourism saw stronger summer bookings as travellers boycott the U.S.

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U.S. Boycott Sent Shocks Through Canadian Tourism: A Deep‑Dive into the Numbers and the Response

In an unexpected turn for the tourism industry, a growing U.S. boycott against Canadian travel has started to bite. The Globe and Mail’s latest feature – “Canada tourism: U.S. boycott effect on travel” – explores how the shift in American consumer sentiment is reshaping the country’s key revenue stream, and what the industry is doing to weather the storm.


What’s Behind the Boycott?

The piece opens with a brief recounting of the political spark that set the boycott in motion. In early 2024, the U.S. launched a wave of diplomatic pressure on Canada over a series of policy disagreements – from Canada’s new carbon‑pricing regime to its stance on trade in rare earths and the recent decision to grant certain U.S. technology firms exclusive access to Canadian data centers. A coalition of American business groups, backed by a handful of influential lawmakers, called for a “travel pause” to Canada until the policy impasse was resolved.

While the boycott was framed as a purely political protest, its fallout quickly spilled into the tourism market. Travel agencies across the U.S., along with a large number of social‑media‑driven consumer advocacy groups, began to issue public statements urging fans of Canadian culture – from ski‑tourists to culinary explorers – to look elsewhere. This momentum was amplified by a viral hashtag campaign that trended for two weeks on Twitter, and a series of high‑profile op‑eds in U.S. newspapers and magazines.


Data: U.S. Visitors and Dollars

The Globe and Mail’s article highlights the scale of the impact by citing fresh data from Statistics Canada and Tourism Canada. According to the latest numbers:

  • Pre‑boycott: In 2022, American visitors accounted for roughly 30 % of all international tourists in Canada – about 9 million people – and contributed an estimated CAD 11.6 billion (≈ USD 8.8 billion) to the national economy.
  • Post‑boycott (Q1 2024): The same period saw a 12 % drop in U.S. arrivals, with total tourism revenue from the U.S. down 15 % year‑on‑year. The loss in revenue translates to an estimated USD 1.3 billion in GDP hit for Canada’s hospitality and service sectors.
  • Regional ripples: Ontario and Quebec – the two most visited provinces – felt the biggest strain, with Ontario’s tourism bureau reporting a 19 % decline in U.S. bookings for the quarter. British Columbia, while less exposed, noted a 6 % dip in ski‑season traffic from the U.S.

The article also points readers to a linked report from the Canadian Tourism Association that drills down into employment impacts. Roughly 40 000 jobs across hotels, restaurants, and recreational activities are projected to be at risk if the boycott persists beyond the first half of 2024.


Industry Voices: From Hotels to Airlines

The Globe and Mail interviewed several industry stakeholders to get a ground‑level perspective. A spokesperson for a major Canadian hotel chain said, “We’re already seeing a significant uptick in cancellations and last‑minute bookings for U.S. customers. We’re not sure if this is a short‑lived reaction or a sustained trend.”

An airline representative explained how the boycott has forced them to re‑allocate aircraft resources. “We’ve had to shift some capacity from the U.S.–Canada route to other destinations that have been more reliable,” the pilot‑in‑command said.

A tourism marketer from British Columbia offered a slightly optimistic take, noting that “our province has been diversifying its marketing portfolio over the past two years. While we’re not immune, we’re seeing a rebound in travelers from Australia and the United Kingdom, which helps offset the loss.”


Government Response

The feature also details the Canadian government’s two‑pronged response. First, the Minister of Tourism launched an immediate “U.S. Visitor Recovery Campaign,” offering targeted incentives to American travelers such as discounted accommodation packages and streamlined visa processes. Second, the federal government has opened a negotiation track with U.S. trade representatives to address the policy issues that sparked the boycott. A joint task force will meet later this month to explore a “balanced” compromise on the carbon‑pricing debate and the technology‑access dispute.

The article links to a statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs, which emphasizes Canada’s commitment to maintaining open borders while safeguarding its environmental and economic interests. It also references a recently published policy brief from the Bank of Canada, which warns that a prolonged boycott could derail Canada’s tourism‑driven GDP growth trajectory for the next decade.


Looking Ahead

In closing, the Globe and Mail underscores that the U.S. boycott is still in its early stages. While the data indicates a clear downturn, the industry’s resilience, coupled with proactive policy measures, could mitigate the long‑term damage. The article ends with a note that a “post‑boycott recovery” will likely hinge on:

  • Diversification of source markets – boosting tourism from Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean.
  • Digital marketing innovations – leveraging virtual reality previews of Canadian destinations to entice hesitant travelers.
  • Strengthening public‑private partnerships – ensuring that regional tourism boards can adapt quickly to shifting demand.

The Globe and Mail’s report paints a sobering yet nuanced picture of a tourism sector on the brink of a potential crisis, but also one that is actively seeking a path forward. Whether the U.S. boycott will culminate in a lasting shift in travel patterns remains to be seen – for now, Canadian tourism professionals are scrambling to stay afloat while the political saga unfolds.


Read the Full The Globe and Mail Article at:
[ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-canada-tourism-us-boycott-effect-travel/ ]