Canada’s U.S. Travel Boycott Forces One State To Demand Apology From President Trump

Many Canadians felt disrespected by U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war and remarks about Canada becoming the “51st state” earlier in the year, leading to a dramatic fall in tourism to the United States from Canada in 2025. Even just this week, the president cracked a joke about a “merger” of the two countries in a meeting with Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney. As a result of these tensions, Canadians’ sentiment remains strong; Canada’s travel boycott of the United States has continued into its eighth month.

According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, Canadian road trip visits to the U.S. fell by 35% in September compared to the same month last year, with air travel dropping by 27%. This decline is an alarming loss for the U.S., as Canada is its largest source of international tourists, representing 26% of all overseas visits. 22 million Canadians visited in 2024, contributing $20.5 billion to the American economy and supporting around 140,000 U.S. jobs, per the U.S. Travel Association.

Some U.S. destinations have felt and dealt with their Canadian absence more than others. Minnesota begged for Canadians’ return in the summer, while Montana outright gave up on them after its tourism promotions in Canada received negative feedback. After acknowledging the consequences of Canada’s boycott, Las Vegas even launched a city-wide sale to entice visitors. Now, Louisiana, which has strong cultural ties to Canada, is also acting on its dwindling Canadian tourism. However, it’s not resorting to begging or discounts. State officials are pointing the finger at the White House instead, urging President Trump to apologize to Canada, which also coincides with a major festival that would typically attract Canadian revelers—only this year, many are missing.

Louisiana’s Decline In Canadian Tourists Is Being Blamed On The Trump Administration

Louisiana received around 185,000 visitors from Canada in 2024, who spent almost $194 million that year, according to the state’s Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. The state’s Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism promotes travel between Canada and Louisiana, not solely because Canadian tourism is its top international market, but also due to the two destinations’ shared Acadian heritage.

“Canada is our largest international market, and we want to make sure our Canadian friends know they are always welcome in Louisiana. We are also committed to maintaining the cultural ties Louisiana and Canada share. It is time to reinforce our partnerships to promote travel between the two regions,” said Louisiana’s Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser

However, like many states, Louisiana is suffering a sharp decline in Canadian visitors. Louisiana’s Lieutenant Governor, Billy Nungesser, a Republican, recently sympathized with Canadians’ reasons for boycotting the U.S., as seen in the YouTube video above from Global News.

The lack of Canadians in Louisiana is particularly noticeable this weekend, which marked the start of the Grand Reveil Acadien, or “Great Acadian Awakening,” near Lafayette (seen below). The nine-day festival began on October 11 and will continue until the 18th. It occurs every five years and celebrates the region’s Acadian and Creole culture and history, the former of which it shares with Canada. The Acadians are descendants of early French settlers who traveled from Louisiana to Canada in the 1700s.

A lot of Canadian tourists would normally visit Louisiana for this major event, but some are staying away this time. Granted, many are skipping it partially because of the weakened Canadian dollar—but a significant reason is President Trump’s rhetoric, according to Nungesser. At least one tour company reported that four charter buses full of visitors had been canceled, according to Randal Menard, the president of the non-profit group that hosts the Grand Reveil Acadien festival.

“After the tariffs and the president’s comments, he let us know that people were dropping like flies,” Menard said, according to local Louisiana news outlet, WRKF-FM Baton Rouge

The event comes shortly after Lt. Gov. Nungesser’s efforts to promote tourism in Canada and boost relationships with Canadians. There, he discovered more truths about why Canadians aren’t coming to his state this year, even for shared cultural events that are historically important for both Louisiana and Canada.

Louisiana’s Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser Traveled To Canada To Promote Tourism—And Found Out How Canadians Really Feel

Similar to how Las Vegas tourism officials went to Canada to win back Canadian tourists, Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Nungesser did the same to promote his own state. During a recent trip to the country to promote Louisiana tourism (seen above on his Instagram account), Nungesser visited Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City to meet with tourism and government officials, tour operators, and media. However, he said many Canadians upset by Trump’s comments earlier this year told him they’re not coming to the U.S., nor to Louisiana.

“I don’t realize what the impact has been until I got here, but the pushback from the president’s comments about the 51st state, the tariffs, have really left a bad taste in Canadians’ mouths,” Nungesser said

Nungesser also said that “Airlines still have the flights, but they’re not advertising travel to America,” which could be down to negative sentiment in Canada toward the U.S., leading to lower demand. He also highlighted that Canadian tourists are valuable to Louisiana because they often extend their trips in New Orleans to explore other parts of the state. He thus urged measures to protect the Canadian tourism market, one of which is an apology from President Trump to Canadians.

Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser Wants President Trump To Apologize To Canada

Nungesser noted that Canadians’ absence in Louisiana stems from the White House, and he’s asked President Trump for an apology in hopes of improving diplomatic relations and improving Louisiana’s tourism problem.

“It would be really nice if the president could issue an apology about the 51st state,” Nungesser said. “I think that would go a long way—at least many of the people up here believe it would,” he added

Nungesser said the U.S. has now become an unpopular destination for Canadians, with tourism from Canada down 20% to 30%. Kelly Schulz, senior vice president of communications and public relations for New Orleans & Company (the city’s tourism marketing body), said in September that “Canada is our most important international market,” but she explained that projections indicate a 15% fall in Canadian travelers for 2025, citing tariffs and political tensions among the reasons why. And she’s right; many Canadians surveyed this year have said they can’t forgive the U.S. and won’t return until the president has gone.

“They just pretty much said that they’re not coming back until he’s either out of office or he apologizes,” Nungesser said, commenting on his Louisiana tourism promotion trip to Canada

Nungesser hasn’t yet heard back from President Trump following his request for an apology, although he admitted saying sorry might not fully fix the issue, WRKF-FM Baton Rouge reported. Meanwhile, other Canadians have chimed in about avoiding Louisiana this year after reading about Nungesser’s attempt to obtain an apology from the president, with many having voiced their thoughts on Reddit.

Apology or not, the Grand Reveil Acadien is ongoing as normal, brimming with classic Louisiana French music, food, and celebrating locals. However, Louisianans are enjoying the festivities without many of their Canadian cousins, Menard said.

“I mean, we’re gonna miss their presence. The program will go on, but it’s not gonna be the same without their participation,” Menard said

Ultimately, Louisiana officials hope their absence will be temporary, but many Canadians aren’t wavering in their U.S. travel boycott. Although Louisiana’s neighbor has broken the boycott early, thanks to loyal Canadian snowbirds, who are booking trips a month earlier than usual and paying up to a 70% premium to do so, the same can’t be said for the Bayou State.

Still, despite struggling U.S.-Canadian relations, Kelly Schulz at New Orleans & Company said in September that the message from Louisiana is the same: “No matter what may be going on politically or whatever is happening between our two countries, you’re welcome in the United States, and in Louisiana and in New Orleans.” Whether President Trump will apologize as requested remains to be seen, but for now, all Nungesser and the Louisiana tourism sector can do is hope.