Latest news with #AndrewSiegwart
Travel Weekly
23-06-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Ontario tourism association's Andrew Siegwart on U.S.-Canada travel
Tensions between the U.S. and Canada have been high due to President Trump's talk of making Canada the 51st state and his threats of levying heavy tariffs. Tours and river cruises editor Brinley Hineman spoke with Andrew Siegwart, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, about the impact on travel between the two countries and how Ontario is sending a message of welcome to the U.S. Andrew Siegwart Q: Has there been a decline in Americans visiting Ontario? A: A recent pulse survey of our members across Ontario at the beginning of May found that 24% of operators experienced reduced U.S. visitation year to date compared to 2024, and 32% noted less U.S. bookings for summer 2025 compared to summer 2024. The primary markets are Northeast drive and fly markets within the U.S. It's too early to share comparisons year over year, but our data points suggest less activity. It's important to note that last year, U.S. spending in Ontario grew by almost 15% compared to 2023; U.S. spending equals about 20% of overall tourism spending in Ontario. Q: How is Ontario promoting itself to Americans? A: There are more than a dozen campaigns in the market right now from Ontario to the U.S. The focus is: You are welcome, we are "arms open," border access is seamless into Ontario. The campaigns also focus on calling upon friends and family in the U.S. to visit, the exchange rate and the experiences that make Ontario special: nature, diversity, iconic experiences, proximity, etc. If you think of northwestern Ontario as an example, all of that great natural outdoor adventure, it's such a draw for U.S. visitors. Related story: Brand USA's 'America the Beautiful' campaign aims to rekindle inbound travel Q: Do travelers have concerns about potential issues crossing the U.S.-Canada border? A: Our survey noted that U.S. customers are asking operators if it's OK to visit. They note concerns about being welcomed, and they also noted some concerns about delays or challenges returning home across the border. Q: What about Canadians and their travel plans? A: The recent Destination Ontario results show that Canadians and Ontarians have a real interest in traveling closer to home, but they're still looking at international markets and still considering U.S. visits. My interpretation of that is consumers are just waiting to make those bookings and to finalize those plans. I think we'll be waiting to see how things transpire between Canada and the U.S. and the upcoming negotiations. Q: Are you seeing a desire for Canadians to travel domestically and support their own country's tourism? A: Absolutely, yeah. When you go to a grocery store right now and just take a look at people shopping, you can see the degree to which people are looking at labels and assessing where products are from. So if they're doing it on the lettuce they buy, they're certainly going to do it on the trip that they plan. Over 80% of Ontarians are looking to travel closer to home. Q: What are some ripple effects of the drop in tourism between the U.S. and Canada? A: There's another aspect of tourism, which is business travel and conventions. Some of our larger players in that space in Ontario have definitely observed that U.S. conference business is slowing down a bit based on that concern about coming back across the border. But on the flip side, European and other international conventions are now looking to Canada as a safer place than the U.S. to hold the convention and where North America can still be on the map. Part of what we're doing is making sure that we're marketing those capabilities as well. As one thing shifts, another opportunity emerges.
CBC
09-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Canada-U.S. trade tensions aren't stopping American tourists from visiting: experts
Canadians are rethinking their trips across the border in the wake of U.S. tariffs, but data shows the tension between the two countries is not slowing the Americans down when it comes to flying north. Experts, however, say some Americans are concerned they might not be made to feel welcome here, given the booing of the U.S. national anthem at a number of sports games and the removal of American flags by some Ontario municipalities at their buildings. Andrew Siegwart, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, told CBC Radio's Metro Morning that tourists spent more than $30 billion in Ontario last year and Americans make up about 20 per cent of that total. But there are signs that could change. "We have some concerns about the American market right now, a little bit of potential softness," Seigwart said. "It's really important for us to continue to welcome them." Siegwart said the association would like the Doug Ford government to increase its spending on marketing Ontario to the U.S. to ensure those tourist dollars are not lost. "One of the things that we have been advocating for is for the province to actually up its marketing spend this year," he said. 'Elbows up' on policy, 'arms open' on tourism He said Ontario is seen as safe, travelling here is easy to plan and the exchange rate is favourable. But the association, tourism operators and the province have to work hard to reassure Americans that they are still welcome, he said. Americans are aware of the tension between Canada and the U.S. and tracking events in the trade war, he added. "We are all 'elbows up' on policy right now, but tourism operators remain 'arms open' to our American visitors to ensure that they understand that they are welcome," he said. "The beauty of Ontario is that we have a little something for everyone. We're not a one-trick pony... We're known for our culinary scene, our dynamic urban experiences, our outdoor adventure. So really, the diversity is what we have to offer." For now, however, the numbers of American visitors do not appear to be slowing down. Canada Border Services Agency data shows little change in the number of Americans crossing the border by air in March this year compared to last year. 'This is about one guy' Tony Elenis, president and CEO of Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association, said 11 million visitors from U.S. come to Canada annually. He said the weak Canadian dollar means Americans will visit. The two countries have a long, friendly history, he said. "The Americans will continue to be here because it's not about the Canadians or Americans. This is about one guy. That will not stop them from coming," he said. Wayne Smith, professor and director of the Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Research at Toronto Metropolitan University, said the exchange rate will continue to draw American tourists. "With the exchange rate now, it's basically a third off. It's a great deal to come to Canada right now," he said. "If you're paying $200 on a hotel room, that's really saving $60 a night. That's a pretty substantial savings for coming across the border and staying in Canada."
CBC
05-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Ontario tourism operators hope for summer staycation boom
Local tourism operators are anticipating more business this summer as Canadians opt out of travel south of the border. In the wake of trade tensions between Canada and the U.S., s taycations are growing in popularity. Many Canadian travellers are avoiding or cancelling trips to American states and making summer vacation plans closer to home instead. A boutique hotel chain in Ontario is already noticing that shift. "Our stats are projecting that we're going to have our best summer ever," said Meghan James, general manager at the Somewhere Inn in Calabogie, Ont. The 11-room location, nestled in the Ottawa Valley, has been around for four years. Nearly a year ago, the owners opened a second Somewhere Inn at a historic century home in Collingwood, Ont. — a town north of Toronto. In the last 30 days, James said, both properties have seen an 100 per cent increase in bookings compared to the same period last year. For the most part, those bookings are being made by Canadians. "I just love that Canadians are doing a very Canadian thing and just deciding to support local and stay local," she said. Andrew Siegwart, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, has been hearing similar reports of an increase in early bookings from other industry players. But he said it's too early to tell whether the numbers some hotels are seeing will be reflected across Ontario given the potential for more economic and political uncertainty. "While we are seeing early indicators that traveling local and Canadians staying close to home is going to be strong for the market, there are still some concerns on the horizon and I think consumers are waiting to see what's going to happen," he said. Early booking boom for some businesses For businesses like Somewhere Inn, the early indicators are still a welcome sign. "It's pretty exciting," James said. "For not just the business but also our communities who are definitely going to benefit from the injection of tourists and travelers and locals wanting to stay more local this year." Scott Clément said a tourism boost isn't something he and his siblings, Rachel and Nick Clément, expected when U.S. President Donald Trump first threatened Canada with tariffs and annexation. The Cléments own Breathe Vacation Rentals, a short-term property management company serving Ontario and Western Quebec, and Sandbanks Vacations, a tour operator in Prince Edward County, Ont. Across their business area, they manage about 150 individually owned properties, including some cottages at the East Lake Shores resort near Sandbanks Provincial Park. Scott said bookings at the resort are up 87 per cent compared to last year. "Early March it just really started taking off," he explained. "We had emails from people making sure we were a Canadian company that they were booking with." For us, it's elbows up on policy... But we have to remain arms open. - Andrew Siegwart, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario Ottawa Tourism has also noticed the shift in Canadians' attitudes to travel, however that hasn't yet led to more reservations for travel to the city. "The question as to whether Canadians are turning their travel intentions to bookings is still something that remains to be seen," said Catherine Callary, vice president of destination development at Ottawa Tourism. Siegwart said that's to be expected as people wait to see how U.S. tariffs affect their pocketbooks. "I would imagine that families might be holding off on making travel decisions until they find out what's going to happen with their sectors and their employers." Elbows up and 'arms open' Despite economic and political uncertainties, Ottawa Tourism hopes that marketing efforts will enable it to benefit from more domestic tourism. Ottawa typically receives about 9.8 million visitors per year, according to Callary. About 90 per cent of those travellers come from elsewhere in Canada. "There's a lot of different tactics that we can use to incite travel to Ottawa and we will continue to do that throughout the summer," Callary said. That includes continuing to welcome U.S. travellers.
