The governors of New England say price And anti-Canadian rhetoric by the American government takes a bite from tourism, some states seeing a decrease of up to 60% among visitors in the north of the border.
The Governor of Massachusetts, Maura Healey, said that Canadian tourism in its state and others like Maine, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont are decreasing between 20 and 60% compared to last year.
“We have seen impacts on which you cannot quite put a price,” she told journalists on Monday in Boston, after a meeting between New England Governors and Ministers in eastern Canada.
“But there are real concerns about travel to the United States and security problems … and what could happen in terms of border activity.”
Delegations from Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador went to Boston in Healey’s Invitation. Representatives of Maine, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut and New Hampshire also participated.
Maine Governor Janet Mills said Reunion was a chance for managers to forge stronger ties and continue to establish relationships in the face of a “dangerous rhetoric coming from Washington”.
Nova Scotia Prime Minister Tim Houston said everyone was trying to face a situation that was “pushed” on them.
“No one here has created this situation … This gap between our countries,” he said. “And the Canadians, you know when they hear the speech on the 51st state thing, we are quite checked on this. It really makes us, really upset.”
US President Donald Trump said that he wanted to make Canada “51st state” and that he would use economic constraint to achieve this. Trump has imposed radical rates on Canadian products, especially in steel and aluminum.
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Mills said that the Maine’s tourism industry depends “a lot” of Canada with at least one million Canadians visiting the State each year.
“I understand the hostility that people in Canada must feel of this rhetoric. I think that too. It hurts us all, and we want to make sure that Canadian citizens understand that we want them to come…. We want the people of Maine to also go to Canada, “she said.
“We appreciate this relationship more than anything.”
Between February and April, Mills said, tourism fell by around 26%. “It is not the prices that affect them as much as the injured pride of Canadian citizens. And my boy, I understand that. “
Healey said the Massachusetts is a decreased about 20% of Canadian tourists this year. The Vermont reports that the reserves of hotels by Canadians fell by 45% in the first part of the year, while credit card expenses have decreased by 36%. In New York, she said, Canadians’ reservations are down 45% so far.
Some schools have suspended or canceled trips to the United States since Trump came to power, she said.
Robert Huish, an associate professor in the Dulhousie University Department of International Studies, said the hostility that the Trump administration shows to anyone who agrees or differs in opinion will be “defeat of America”.
“Never before, a show of strength has been used against those who do not agree with the government. It is difficult to invite various investments while demanding an undeniable political loyalty. I expected more Saudi Arabia or North Korea,” he said.
“It will therefore be a difficult period for Canadians who work and dealing in the United States, doing business abroad should not have the price of undermining our national values.”
Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford said that he was encouraging Canadians to travel across the country instead of spending their tourist dollars in the United States “Come to Ontario. It’s massive. It’s twice the size of Texas,” he said.
New Brunswick Prime Minister Susan Holt has echoed her colleague Prime Minister, saying that she couldn’t tell Canadians to visit the United States right now.
“I’m going to tell them to go see my neighbors in Nova Scotia,” she said. “I’m going to tell them to spend time at home, because the relationship has been challenged by leadership and we have to return to normal.”
This Canadian press report was published on June 16, 2025 for the first time.
& Copy 2025 the Canadian press