It may not feel like it, but Memorial Day is upon us.It is an important opportunity to remember and honor those in uniform who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.The holiday weekend has also become the unofficial start to summer.From the Berkshires to Cape Cod, local businesses prepare to welcome tourists who start filling hotel rooms, eating in local restaurants, and shopping in local stores.But this year, there are worrying signs, given the strained relations amid the Trump administration’s ongoing trade war.Traditionally, summer visitors to New England have included hundreds of thousands of Canadians. But since the administration announced tariffs on Canadian goods, and the president expressed his wish to make Canada the 51st state, relations have been frosty to say the least.Nationally, the number of Canadians entering the United States by car dropped by 35% in April. It was the fourth month of year-over-year decline, according to the Canadian government.Here in New England, cross-border travel into Vermont and Maine by car has plummeted. New Hampshire tourism officials are anxious, too.And in Boston, where typically one-third of international tourists come from Canada each year, city tourism officials have adjusted their forecast for 2025. They now expect a 10 percent decline in visitors from Canada this year.The U.S. Travel Association warns that a 10% drop in the number of tourists visiting the U.S. from Canada could lead to $2.1 billion in lost spending and 14,000 job losses nationwide. While the impact is nationwide, it will be felt acutely here in New England.In June, a group of New England governors and Canadian premiers will gather in Boston to discuss trade and strategize about solutions.Amid so much uncertainty over national trade policy, there is one way you can contribute. Support those local businesses that rely on tourism to stay afloat, particularly during the short summer season. Every dollar helps.
It may not feel like it, but Memorial Day is upon us.
It is an important opportunity to remember and honor those in uniform who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
The holiday weekend has also become the unofficial start to summer.
From the Berkshires to Cape Cod, local businesses prepare to welcome tourists who start filling hotel rooms, eating in local restaurants, and shopping in local stores.
But this year, there are worrying signs, given the strained relations amid the Trump administration’s ongoing trade war.
Traditionally, summer visitors to New England have included hundreds of thousands of Canadians. But since the administration announced tariffs on Canadian goods, and the president expressed his wish to make Canada the 51st state, relations have been frosty to say the least.
Nationally, the number of Canadians entering the United States by car dropped by 35% in April. It was the fourth month of year-over-year decline, according to the Canadian government.
Here in New England, cross-border travel into Vermont and Maine by car has plummeted. New Hampshire tourism officials are anxious, too.
And in Boston, where typically one-third of international tourists come from Canada each year, city tourism officials have adjusted their forecast for 2025. They now expect a 10 percent decline in visitors from Canada this year.
The U.S. Travel Association warns that a 10% drop in the number of tourists visiting the U.S. from Canada could lead to $2.1 billion in lost spending and 14,000 job losses nationwide. While the impact is nationwide, it will be felt acutely here in New England.
In June, a group of New England governors and Canadian premiers will gather in Boston to discuss trade and strategize about solutions.
Amid so much uncertainty over national trade policy, there is one way you can contribute. Support those local businesses that rely on tourism to stay afloat, particularly during the short summer season. Every dollar helps.
