Hampton Beach business owners note drop in Canadian tourism NBC Boston [Video]

As Memorial Day weekend kicks off the unofficial start of summer, a familiar buzz is noticeably quieter along the vibrant strip of Hampton Beach.

While the popular New Hampshire destination, a longtime hot spot for Canadian tourists, certainly isn’t empty, local businesses are reporting a significant drop in visitors from our northern neighbors.

“Obviously, they bring a lot of business to us, they help, you know, keep us running,” said Tarren Alves, general manager of the Boardwalk restaurant and hotel. “We were hoping for a better turnout, but we didn’t quite get to where we wanted.”

After President Donald Trump’s White House meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, political commentator Sue O’Connell talks about the relationship between the two countries.

However, the holiday weekend crowds, a traditional barometer for the summer season, aren’t quite what they used to be. Hampton Beach Commissioner Chuck Rage recalls a different era.

“When …