Canada Shuns US as Tourism Dries Up Amid Trump Tensions

Canadian tourism has taken a significant hit due to tensions between Canada and the United States under Donald Trump's administration. The numbers are stark, with a 23.5% drop in Canadians crossing the border in 2025 compared to the previous year, resulting in 7.1 million fewer people injecting capital into the US economy.

The financial impact is substantial, with spending on accommodation, food, and shopping falling by $3.3 billion Canadian dollars in just one year, totaling $18.8 billion CAD ($12 billion euros). This has led to a surge in domestic tourism within Canada, absorbing the pent-up demand for leisure.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, a symbol of union and commercial fluidity between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, has become an international embarrassment due to the cancellation of US participation in its opening ceremony. This was a direct consequence of punitive tariffs imposed on Canadian products, sparking outrage in Ottawa.