Whistler's Tourism Paradox: Separating Governments from People

The recent trade tensions between Canada and the US have led to a significant decline in Canadian tourism to the US, with nearly 10 million fewer trips taken in 2025 compared to 2024.

A Bank of Canada analysis found that land trips fell by 30%, while air travel dropped 12% - the largest year-over-year declines outside of the pandemic.

Despite this decline, US residents are increasingly visiting Canada, with Statistics Canada estimating three million trips were made in June, up 6.1% from the previous year.

Tourism is a crucial industry for Whistler, which welcomes around three million visitors annually and relies heavily on international tourism to fund local operations.