Maine business owners feel pinch from lack of Canadian tourists [Video]

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start to summer but a big question remains in Maine: How will the trade war between United States and Canada impact tourism in the state?According to the Maine Office of Tourism, nearly 800,000 Canadian visitors spent approximately $497.7 million in 2024. Overall, Canadians made up about 5% of last year’s total of 14.8 million visitors, who spent more than $9.2 billion. That total spending supported 115,900 jobs in Maine and generated $5.4 billion in wages, according to the tourism office.Hotel owners in Maine have especially come to rely on the business of Canadian tourists.”The Canadians are definitely a cornerstone of the business,” said Ken Mason, owner of the Seaside Inn in Kennebunk. “One of the benefits of the Canadians is they’re about the only traveling public that still stays longer than two days. They come down, they’ll stay seven, 10 or 14 days.”Gov. Janet …