Latest news with #TravelGroup
CBC
15-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
California governor urges Canadians to ignore Trump, come back for sand, sun and wine
Canadians' boycott of travel to the U.S. is hitting hard on California's sandy shores, prompting the state's governor to make a social media pitch-plea to come back. Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a video this week, is urging the two million Canadians who visited last year to look past U.S. President Donald Trump and return to enjoy the Golden State's wine, sun and surf. Newsom, without calling out Trump by name, says Canadians should not let a dust-up with Washington stop them from renewing their love affair with his coastal paradise. "Sure, you-know-who is trying to stir things up back in D.C., but don't let that ruin your beach plans," Newsom says in the video, which is part of a $5.2-million US advertising effort to lure Canucks back over the border. WATCH | Newsom releases ad targeting Canadian travellers: Are you convinced by California Gov. Gavin Newsom's plea for Canadians to visit his state again? 54 minutes ago Duration 6:29 Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, launched a tourism campaign to draw Canadians back to the Golden State amid a decline in visits. In a video posted to social media, he is distancing the state from the White House's actions and urges Canadian tourists to enjoy the sun, surf and wine his state has to offer. BC Today host Michelle Eliot and McKenzie McMilan, a travel consultant with the Travel Group, heard from callers who are not buying Newsom's message. Canadians have sharply curtailed vacation plans south of the border in recent weeks given an ongoing tariff war with the United States, a comparatively weak dollar, reports of travellers being detained by U.S. officials, and Trump openly musing about annexing the country. Though Trump has recently relented from his verbal attacks on Canada, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated on Tuesday that he still thinks Canada should become the 51st state. California estimates Canadians are the second-biggest international spenders for its tourism economy, and state tourism officials say visits by Canadians dropped 12 per cent in February compared with the same month last year. "We kind of want to reach out and say, 'You're always welcome here when you're ready to travel,'" said Caroline Beteta, president of industry-led state tourism marketer Visit California. B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon, who is leading the province's response to the trade war, told reporters on Tuesday that the ad was clearly in response to statistics showing travel south of the border has plummeted, with U.S.-bound traffic at Lower Mainland border crossings dropping by 42 per cent in March. "There's a reason why there's ads being run by U.S. states. It's because Canadians have responded with a clear message — we're not a 51st state. We're not going to take this lightly," Kahlon said. "We believe all the tariffs should come off. And so, I'm proud of Canadians. I'm proud of British Columbians." Travel agents say U.S.-bound travel down In Canada, travel agents paint a grimmer picture. McKenzie McMillan, a travel consultant with the Vancouver-based Travel Group, said overall business at the agency has remained steady as clients have chosen to avoid the U.S. for Europe, Asia and Mexico. But business to the United States has virtually dried up. "We have seen a near-total collapse of U.S. business. We have some business based on our corporate clients travelling down for conferences or for board meetings," McMillan said in an interview. "But for leisure travel, we've almost seen a complete drop-off ... probably about a 90 per cent drop since February." McMillan said tourism boards need to do more than just make a pitch for Canadians to come back. "There's anger among Canadian travellers, not so much with Americans but with the federal government in the United States and in other outreach I've seen, no one has addressed that exact issue," he said. McMillan said the California campaign is a bit more light-hearted and appears to be aimed at younger travellers. "It makes it very clear that the state of California is not interested in aligning with the federal government's policies when it relates to Canada," McMillan said. "For a lot of Canadians that have made an emotional decision to avoid the United States, this might resonate with them." Lesley Keyter, the CEO and founder of the Travel Lady agency in Calgary, said traveller concerns and anxieties are real, so much so they are voting with their wallets — or voting to abandon their wallets. "I've seen people actually forfeit money to cancel their trips to go down there," Keyter said in an interview. "Even if they're going on a Caribbean cruise, they don't want to go down to Fort Lauderdale to get on the cruise ship."
CBC
15-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Are you convinced by California Gov. Gavin Newsom's plea for Canadians to visit his state again?
Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, launched a tourism campaign to draw Canadians back to the Golden State amid a decline in visits. In a video posted to social media, he is distancing the state from the White House's actions and urges Canadian tourists to enjoy the sun, surf and wine his state has to offer. BC Today host Michelle Eliot and McKenzie McMilan, a travel consultant with the Travel Group, heard from callers who are not buying Newsom's message.
Fox News
14-04-2025
- Business
- Fox News
SCOOP: Newsom launches campaign to entice reluctant Canadians to visit California amid Trump tariff push
EXCLUSIVE: Liberal Gov. Gavin Newsom is making it clear in a new campaign that Canadian tourists are welcome in the Golden State, as he looks to boost international travel following a sharp decline in U.S. tourism sparked by President Donald Trump's tariff policies. "We get it. The White House isn't exactly laying out the welcome mat, but Canadians should know that California will continue to welcome them and that we remain grateful for their partnership," a Newsom administration official told Fox News Digital on Monday. The campaign, in partnership with the nonprofit tourist organization Visit California, will roll out the campaign internationally, similar to Newsom's call asking nations not to place retaliatory tariffs on California products this month. Newsom's office said that since Trump took office, tourism has dropped significantly to levels not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic. Tourism from Canada, which brought in 1.8 million tourists last year and $3.72 billion in revenue, dropped 12% in February compared to last year, with that percentage expected to rise as tariffs remain in place. The $5.2 million campaign is part of Visit California's annual marketing investment in Canada, according to Newsom's office. Newsom, who has been rumored to be eyeing a 2028 presidential bid, also met with British Columbia Premier David Eby Monday to discuss opportunities for expanding California's partnership with Canada. The two politicians discussed ways to partner in the lumber industry, national transportation corridors and housing, a Newsom official said. While Trump has quipped that Canada could become the "51st state," the U.S. remains Canada's largest trading partner, supplying nearly two-thirds of its imports and buying over 70% of its exports. Under Trump's new tariff rates, 25% has been levied on Canadian goods. Vancouver-based Travel Group reported a 90% drop in future bookings, according to a report from Politico this week. Ottawa's Travac Tours canceled all U.S. trips through July, while Maple Leaf Tours, based in Kingston, Ontario, has seen its business dip 70% to 80%. In mid-March, Canada issued reciprocal tariffs on $30 billion worth of U.S. goods.
Politico
12-04-2025
- Business
- Politico
Canadians freeze visits to the US over Trump
NEW YORK — Marketers for top U.S. destinations are trumpeting a reminder to Canadians amid a dive in tourism: You're welcome here regardless of who's president. But some northern neighbors predict their deep freeze on spending in America could last as long as President Donald Trump is in office. Tour buses to New York City are being canceled. Cross-border day trips for shopping are thinning out. And travel agencies are seeing a steep drop-off, too. Among them, the Vancouver-based Travel Group reports that future bookings are down 90 percent; Travac Tours, based in Ottawa, has canceled all its tours to the United States through July; and Maple Leaf Tours, headquartered in Kingston, Ontario, has seen its business plummet 70 to 80 percent. 'It was always such a happy time whether we were going to Myrtle Beach or Florida or Boston or the Cape,' Maple Leaf Tours founder Kristine Geary said in an interview. 'And now it's anxiety and apprehension and nerves. It's 'will I be safe?' And it's hesitation. Some people are saying, 'I'm not going to support that guy.'' Businesses in both the U.S. and Canada are bracing for even bleaker months ahead. Travel from Canada is expected to plummet 20 percent this year, costing the United States $3.4 billion in lost revenue relative to last year, analytics firm Tourism Economics projects. In New York's North Country, which shares hundreds of miles of border with Canada, 66 percent of businesses are already experiencing a dip in Canadian bookings for the year, a recent survey found. There's no sign that U.S.-Canadian relations will thaw anytime soon, either. The century-plus alliance has veered into hostility after Trump's threat to annex Canada and his tariff whiplash, which included the president levying a 25 percent tariff on Canadian goods not covered by an existing trade deal. Also concerning, travel advisers said, is the possibility tourists could be detained at the border by U.S. Customs officials, a prospect bolstered by reports of Europeans and Canadians held at northern and southern crossings. What began as a boycott over Trump's many insults — 'Canada only works as a state,' the president has said — has devolved into purse-tightening amid economic uncertainty and apprehension about border stops. Tourism industry leaders are especially on edge as the United States prepares to host marquee events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and America's 250th anniversary. But cities and states that depend on visitors to turbocharge their economies are ready to woo, plead and pivot until Canadians and others see them as separate and apart from Trump. The nonprofit Visit California has a message to all: 'You're welcomed and respected in California.' Visit Lauderdale, which promotes Florida's Broward County, tells Canadians they 'are always among friends.' The North Country Chamber of Commerce in New York has equipped local businesses with 'Welcome Canadians' signs and other tools. And NYC Tourism + Conventions is leaning hard on the global marketing campaign it began last fall, 'With Love + Liberty, New York City.' 'I think generally people from Canada and Europe know that New York City is a welcoming place for people from all around the world,' said Andrew Rigie, executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance. 'But it is going to take an investment to remind people that locally, we want you here, and you'll have a wonderful experience regardless of what our national rhetoric may be.' New York City, one of the world's most dynamic gateways, has long lured Canadian school groups, retirees and other visitors seeking an escape just hours away. With iconic draws like the Statue of Liberty, Broadway shows and fine dining, the Big Apple is generally more inoculated from slides in travel trends than other regions — and it has a reputation as a deep-blue bastion. But Democrat-run cities and states could see a reduction in Canadian traffic that's worse than what they experienced during Trump 1.0. 'After the 2016 election, a lot of Canadians were more willing to go to spend their money in places in the U.S. that they perceived that the residents would have similar value structures to them: California, Hawaii, the whole West coast, New York and the Northeast, Boston,' said McKenzie McMillan, travel adviser with the Vancouver-based Travel Group. 'Now, a lot of Canadians are grappling with the idea of 'Do I go? Or is this something that I need to take a stand on?'' Border regions have been affected differently by Canadians' reluctance to drive a couple miles over the border to restaurants and stores in the states. The severing of the bond is personal among neighbors. And it's now being felt in New York's North Country, which is represented by Rep. Elise Stefanik and on the frontline of the U.S. trade war with Canada. Trump floated Stefanik as his ambassador to the United Nations but pulled the nomination amid his tariff rollout and concerns about the GOP's razor-thin grip on power in the House. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has sought to spotlight how hard the local economy will be rocked by tariffs. Garry Douglas, president and CEO of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, expects the climate will remain volatile ahead of Canada's federal elections April 28. 'We especially feel and appreciate the sense of hurt as one would with one's family,' Douglas told POLITICO. 'Not just for economic reasons but because our people-to-people connection is deeply valued here.' U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows there was a nearly 12 percent decrease in travelers across the northern border this past February versus February 2024, and the drop is expected to be steeper for March. The White House said tourism will bounce back when Trump's vision is realized. 'President Trump's agenda to make America wealthy, safe, and beautiful again benefits Americans and international visitors alike,' said White House spokesperson Anna Kelly. 'New York will break tourism records when the Trump administration is finished deporting illegal migrant lunatics who set subway riders on fire.' Canadian travel planners say a safer bet on a return to normal travel levels is a post-Trump era. 'I think it's going to be four years,' Geary of Maple Leaf Tours said of the hit to travel and commerce. 'I hope I'm wrong because it's a killer on my business. But there's so much anxiety.'
Politico
12-04-2025
- Business
- Politico
‘Not going to support that guy': Canadians freeze visits to the U.S. over Trump
NEW YORK — Marketers for top U.S. destinations are trumpeting a reminder to Canadians amid a dive in tourism: You're welcome here regardless of who's president. But some northern neighbors predict their deep freeze on spending in America could last as long as Donald Trump is in office. Tour buses to New York City are being canceled. Cross-border day trips for shopping are thinning out. And travel agencies are seeing a steep drop-off, too. Among them, the Vancouver-based Travel Group reports future bookings are down 90 percent; Travac Tours, based in Ottawa, has canceled all its tours to the United States through July; and Maple Leaf Tours, headquartered in Kingston, Ontario, has seen its business plummet 70 to 80 percent. 'It was always such a happy time whether we were going to Myrtle Beach or Florida or Boston or the Cape,' Maple Leaf Tours founder Kristine Geary said in an interview. 'And now it's anxiety and apprehension and nerves. It's 'will I be safe?' And it's hesitation. Some people are saying, 'I'm not going to support that guy.'' Businesses in both the U.S. and Canada are bracing for even bleaker months ahead. Travel from Canada is expected to plummet 20 percent this year, costing the United States $3.4 billion in lost revenue relative to last year, analytics firm Tourism Economics projects. In New York's North Country, which shares hundreds of miles of border with Canada, 66 percent of businesses are already experiencing a dip in Canadian bookings for the year, a recent survey found. There's no sign that U.S.-Canadian relations will thaw anytime soon, either. The century-plus alliance has veered into hostility after Trump's threat to annex Canada and his tariff whiplash, which included the president levying a 25 percent tariff on Canadian goods not covered by an existing trade deal. Also concerning, travel advisers said, is the possibility tourists could be detained at the border by U.S. Customs officials, a prospect bolstered by reports of Europeans and Canadians held at northern and southern crossings. What began as a boycott over Trump's many insults — 'Canada only works as a state,' the president has said — has devolved into purse-tightening amid economic uncertainty and apprehension about border stops. Tourism industry leaders are especially on edge as the United States prepares to host marquee events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and America's 250th anniversary. But cities and states that depend on visitors to turbocharge their economies are ready to woo, plead and pivot until Canadians and others see them as separate and apart from Trump. The nonprofit Visit California has a message to all: 'You're welcomed and respected in California.' Visit Lauderdale, which promotes Florida's Broward County, tells Canadians they 'are always among friends.' The North County Chamber of Commerce in New York has equipped local businesses with 'Welcome Canadians' signs and other tools. And NYC Tourism + Conventions is leaning hard on the global marketing campaign it began last fall, 'With Love + Liberty, New York City.' 'I think generally people from Canada and Europe know that New York City is a welcoming place for people from all around the world,' said Andrew Rigie, executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance. 'But it is going to take an investment to remind people that locally, we want you here, and you'll have a wonderful experience regardless of what our national rhetoric may be.' New York City, one of the world's most dynamic gateways, has long lured Canadian school groups, retirees and other visitors seeking an escape just hours away. With iconic draws like the Statue of Liberty, Broadway shows and fine dining, the Big Apple is generally more inoculated from slides in travel trends than other regions — and it has a reputation as a deep-blue bastion. But Democrat-run cities and states could see a reduction in Canadian traffic that's worse than what they experienced during Trump 1.0. 'After the 2016 election, a lot of Canadians were more willing to go to spend their money in places in the U.S. that they perceived that the residents would have similar value structures to them: California, Hawaii, the whole West coast, New York and the Northeast, Boston,' said McKenzie McMillan, travel adviser with the Vancouver-based Travel Group. 'Now, a lot of Canadians are grappling with the idea of 'Do I go? Or is this something that I need to take a stand on?'' Border regions have been affected differently by Canadians' reluctance to drive a couple miles over the border to restaurants and stores in the states. The severing of the bond is personal among neighbors. And it's now being felt in New York's North Country, which is represented by Rep. Elise Stefanik and on the frontline of the U.S. trade war with Canada . Trump floated Stefanik as his ambassador to the United Nations, but pulled the nomination amid his tariff rollout and concerns about the GOP's razor-thin grip on power in the House. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has sought to spotlight how hard the local economy will be rocked by tariffs. Garry Douglas, president and CEO of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, expects the climate will remain volatile ahead of Canada's federal elections on April 28. 'We especially feel and appreciate the sense of hurt as one would with one's family,' Douglas told POLITICO. 'Not just for economic reasons but because our people-to-people connection is deeply valued here.' U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows there was a nearly 12 percent decrease in travelers across the northern border this past February versus February 2024, and the drop is expected to be steeper for March. The White House said tourism will bounce back when Trump's vision is realized. 'President Trump's agenda to make America wealthy, safe, and beautiful again benefits Americans and international visitors alike,' said White House spokesperson Anna Kelly. 'New York will break tourism records when the Trump administration is finished deporting illegal migrant lunatics who set subway riders on fire.' Canadian travel planners say a safer bet on a return to normal travel levels is a post-Trump era. 'I think it's going to be four years,' Geary of Maple Leaf Tours said of the hit to travel and commerce. 'I hope I'm wrong, because it's a killer on my business. But there's so much anxiety.'
