But the fortunes of ski resorts depend heavily on snowfall. With rising tensions between the United States and Canada, Wright decided to take proactive measures. Last month, he released a statement assuring that despite the current political situation, Jay Peak, located near the Canadian border, is still open for visitors.
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Jay Peak Resort last November in Jay, Vermont. Paul Heintz/for The Boston Globe
“The border may feel different right now. We do not. You are our neighbors. You are our friends. You are part of this place,” he stated.
Since President Trump took office in January 2025, there’s been a significant drop in Canadian visitors to the United States. A report from the Canadian government indicated a 25 percent decrease in overall visits by Canadians to the US in 2025 compared to 2024. That translates to 7 million fewer Canadians spending $3.3 billion less in the US during 2025 compared to 2024.
A study from the University of Toronto revealed an even more alarming decline. Utilizing cellphone data tracking, researchers found a “year-over-year median decline of approximately 42 percent in Canadian visits to US metropolitan areas.”
The University of Toronto research went beyond simple border crossing statistics; it monitored tourists’ movements within the US through their cellphones. In previous years, Canadians visiting Maine’s beaches often included trips to cities like Boston or New York City as part of their travel plans. Consequently, cellphone data showed that metropolitan areas were among those most affected: Boston saw a 52 percent drop in Canadian visitors; Portland experienced a 49 percent decline; Worcester had a 45 percent fall; and Burlington noted a 48 percent decrease.
“The hostility towards the US is really quite tangible,” said Karen Chapple, director of the School of Cities at the University of Toronto. She mentioned that many on her staff have chosen not to participate in an upcoming research trip to America due to feelings ranging from fear to anger over current events. “There was a lot of eye-rolling about the Lake America name.”
Some within tourism and hospitality sectors felt hopeful over summer when Canadian visitor numbers started ticking up slightly again. While government statistics confirmed this modest increase, Hazel Brewster, director of communications for Vermont’s Agency of Commerce and Community Development, pointed out these gains were minimal and insignificant “relative to the sharp decline in 2025.”
People looked out across Lake Ontario and the Toronto skyline in August. Keito Newman/Keito Newman/The Canadian Press
Brewster and others observing this trend worry any improvements might be short-lived.
“At this point, it’s too early to speculate on what all these latest tensions will mean,” she said. “Travel into the US dropped sharply back in February 2025 during earlier tariffs and harsh rhetoric.”
Even though some signs suggested cooling anti-US sentiment among Canadians over summer according to July findings from travel research firm Longwoods International, these small gains could easily vanish if trade tensions escalate further.
“Some towns reported seeing more Canadian visitors this past summer than last year while others didn’t spot any Canadian license plates,” said Maine state Representative Chellie Pingree whose district includes popular vacation spots throughout Southern Maine. “We’ve already faced setbacks but with new tariff threats from Trump igniting fears like ‘Oh no! Is it going downhill again? Can things get worse?’”
Canadians began reducing their trips southward along with boycotting American products en masse back when Trump took office early last year amid threats regarding tariffs while belittling Canada as “the 51st state.” Appointing Nick Adams-who has made disparaging remarks about Canada-as tourism envoy did little to mend relations.
“He took a lake that no one thought about-and some people didn’t even know existed-and overnight turned it into perhaps one famous lake worldwide,” Adams told Travel Weekly regarding his claims about renaming Lake Ontario without providing any supporting figures or facts backing them up except stating that “Everyone’s talking about it; everyone wants there; everyone goes there.”
While news around Iran distracted some attention away from US-Canada issues during summer months recently reignited trade disputes between both nations once again late last month after Trump announced hefty tariffs on certain goods manufactured within Canada totaling fifty percent starting August twenty-second followed by reciprocal actions taken by Canada starting September eighth amidst escalating rhetoric involving memes depicting bald eagles attacking Canada geese along with satirical illustrations featuring Prime Minister Mark Carney falling onto ice being mocked by Trump yelling instructions at him during hockey games showcasing rising hostilities toward Canadians overall leading many individuals taking firm stances against future travels southward permanently opting instead towards exploring domestic destinations or alternate travel options altogether causing increased frustrations amongst long-time snowbirds looking now towards selling their properties down south entirely!
People walked through Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas in August. John Locher/Associated Press
City/state tourism boards/local government officials have ramped efforts urging Canadians separate political divides present today versus what offerings await them stateside also providing economic incentives where possible following severe droughts experienced surrounding tourist influxes last summer prompting Las Vegas launching program called At Par treating dollar amounts equally between currencies allowing exchange rates favorably!
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