Tourism Economics says negative sentiment and political posturing are discouraging travel to the U.S., especially among Canadians.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Canada is sending a strong message to the U.S. government through tourism patterns.
Those in the travel industry predict Canadians’ negative sentiment over the current political climate will lead to an estimated 20% drop in Canadian visits to the U.S. for the year.
Tour guide Shannon Krahel from Around Portland Tours said she’s noticed a drop in the number of Canadian tourists, but says many are still coming for conventions.
“There’s definitely a little political climate,” she said. “The convention attendees who I have met have said probably if there wasn’t a convention, they wouldn’t have come.”
Travel Portland said the numbers are significant.
National statistics provided by Tourism Economics show a pullback in Canadian travel in April, with a 35.2% decline among Canadian land visitors returning home from trips to the U.S. and a drop of …