Will Trump’s tariffs on Canadian items coming into the U.S. have an effect on tourism at dwelling, tarnishing ties Canadians and Americans have shared for many years? It’s a good query to ask.
While Canadians have reputations for being well mannered, a Leger poll just last month discovered that 27 per cent of Canadians understand the U.S. as an “enemy” nation. This has precipitated some fear for one would-be traveller, who took to Reddit to ask: “Are people in Canada still generally welcoming to Americans?”
The American Redditor, Julie, who didn’t need her actual title used for privateness causes, has an upcoming journey to Vancouver deliberate for the spring. In mild of the political local weather — U.S. President Donald Trump constantly antagonizing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by referring to him as the “governor” of the “51st state,” tariffs that undo a long time of coverage and neighbourly friendliness — Julie questioned if Canadians’ present emotions about American management would make for a welcome that may be frostier than our winters.
“I wasn’t nervous that anyone would be violent or cruel,” she tells Yahoo Canada. “I didn’t want to be anywhere that I wasn’t wanted, in light of everything that my country is imposing.”
Aftermath of tariffs and threats: Canadian patriotism on the rise
In the lead-up to Trump’s tariff bulletins earlier this 12 months, the menace alone of the additional duties led more Canadians — 58 per cent — to say they felt “proud” or “very proud” to be Canadian. Even in Quebec!
Across the nation, the sentiment is being felt and acted upon in delicate — a coffee shop in B.C. changed the name of their Americano to “Canadiano” — and less-subtle methods, like American liquor brands being taken off shelves in some stores, and Canadian followers booing the American nationwide anthem in hockey arenas. Canadian customers are even vowing to boycott U.S. products at the grocery store, instead focusing on buying local and made in Canada goods.
But that smooth hostility doesn’t look like making a lot of an affect on American travellers coming to Canada to this point this 12 months.
The most current numbers from Statistics Canada present a spike in numbers really. In January, there have been 217,700 Americans who travelled to Canada by air, up 10.2 per cent from a 12 months earlier. As properly, 707,000 Americans drove throughout the border to Canada in January 2025, up 23.3 per cent from a 12 months earlier.
Experts: U.S. information protection of Canada could be instructional, boon for tourism
Wayne Smith is the director of the Institute for Hospitality & Tourism Research. He thinks there’s potential to see extra American vacationers on account of the commerce wars.
“Where you’ll lose from some, you’ll gain on a whole segment of the population because the U.S. is so divided,” he says.
Additionally, having a lot Canadian protection on U.S. channels will solely assist educate Americans on Canada’s greenback.
“I think you might see some net gains coming,” he says. “People knowing about exchange rates and knowing about what’s here, most of the time Canada isn’t even mentioned down there. So it’s hard to be chosen (as a destination to visit) if you’re not thought of.”
Sui Sui is a professor of worldwide administration research on the Ted Rogers School of Management with Toronto Metropolitan University. She says on the subject of American guests, Canadians shouldn’t write them off on account of the chilly political temperature.
“We’re integrated enough, we should still welcome U.S. travellers, tourism and business,” she says. “The only way to change the situation is to work with the U.S., either as consumers or business partners. You have to work with them to solve this situation.”
“We can have counter tariffs and all that, but we’re still being polite, we’re still welcoming their business. This relationship doesn’t change,” she continues.
Canadians react: ‘Majority of us know you are not to blame …’
The majority of respondents to Julie’s Reddit publish have been pleasant and useful, reassuring her that she had nothing to fret about.
“I can’t speak for every Canadian, but the majority of us know you are not to blame for what your president is doing,” DebiDoll65 wrote. “You are more than welcome to visit Canada.”
Most of the responses to her publish helped reassure Julie.
“Lots of people gave me great tips, where to go, what to eat,” she says. “People were incredibly welcoming.”
The one factor that was dropped at her consideration, which she thought can be apparent, pertains to currencies.
“Responses were asking, telling or reminding me not to pay with U.S. dollars,” she says. “I was so embarrassed as an American that so many people from my country were doing that. It’s such bad manners.”
I used to be so embarrassed as an American that so many individuals from my nation have been doing that. It’s such dangerous manners.
