'I don't blame you': U.S. tourism hot spots mourn Canadian travel cancellations | CBC News

CBC - 17/04
U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated suggestion that Canada become the 51st state has had a major dampening effect on tourism to the U.S., with Canadians making public declarations about cancelling their U.S. vacations or refusing to visit their southern neighbour altogether.

For as long as Matt Levy has been running Spread Love Tours in New York City, he could always rely on Canadians to bring him business.

"I can tell you, 30 to 50 per cent of the tours that my company gives are for Canadian high school groups," Levy recently said, moments before giving a tour to a group from Georgia.

Spread Love Tours NYC, which has been in business for more than two decades, takes visitors to all of the major landmarks. Levy, who does many of the tours himself, has taken thousands of Canadians around the city he loves.

But this year, he said he has barely any Canadian bookings.  

"My company grossed $35,000 exclusively from Canadian high school kids coming to New York City for their class trip," he said about his 2024 earnings. This year, he's at $5,000, with cancellations happening every week. 

Levy said his Canadian customers aren't saying explicitly why they're cancelling, but he has put two and two together. 

"I know why, and it's because my president is threatening to annex your country."

  • Nearly 900,000 fewer people went to the U.S. in March as cross-border travel plummets
  • Canadian travel to the U.S. has plummeted. One reason why: fear

President Donald Trump first made the suggestio...
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