02-04-2025
North Country businesses report drop in Canadian visitors
A survey of hotels, restaurants and retailers in the North Country suggests businesses in the hospitality industry saw fewer Canadian visitors in March because U.S. tariffs and Canadians are responding.
Garry Douglas, president of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, says the feedback from businesses reflects the expected decline in Canadian plans to visit the North Country this year.
'We saw a 16% decline in cars at the Champlain border crossing in February and, while we don't yet have March numbers, we expect this number to be larger for the last month,' Douglas said.
The Chamber says more than three-quarters of the businesses surveyed — 76% — say the political climate and tariffs are the main cause the decline in business; 43% also blamed the decline to the exchange rate. which is about 70 cents now.
Other findings from the survey include:
One in four businesses say Canadians make up 26-50% of their customers;
More than 13.3% says Canadians are more than 50% of their business;
Major retailers estimate that 30% of shopping traffic is driven by Canadians;
About 60% of businesses report that 25-50% of their revenue is generated by Canadian visitors
More than quarter of business in the survey say they have reduced staffing in response to the decreas n visitors from Canada.
North Country businesses turn on the charm to bring back Canadian visitors
With so much of its economy tied to Canadian tourism, the Chamber is asking North Country businesses to join its Welcome Canadians campaign. The Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau is providing businesses with signs and other materials to create and spread 'a consistent, region-wide message of welcome.'
'While overall visitation numbers may be down, it's important to remember that Canadians are still crossing the border and choosing our region as their getaway,' says Kristy Kennedy, the bureau's vice president of marketing and tourism.
The bureau is also amping up its advertising in Montreal and expanding efforts into New York's 'drive markets' to help boost lost visitation.
'For some perspective on the stakes, a Chamber study in 2004 estimated that Canadians were spending $310 million annually in just Clinton County, including shopper. tourists and other visitors,' Douglas says. 'Even without applying inflation since then, the economic impact is huge, and the impact of any significant drop is large as well.'
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