Fewer Canadians travelling to Maine inn amid trade war

The operator of a coastal hotel in a picturesque corner of Maine that has long attracted East Coasters during the summer says he is feeling the effects of the Canada-U.S. trade war.

Pierre Janelle, a third-generation innkeeper at The Edgewater in Old Orchard Beach, said he's been fielding an increase in cancellations from Canadians who are bitter about U.S. President Donald Trump's policies. 

"Most people that spoke said that they just felt the uncertainty made them nervous and so they were going to cancel, but they may rebook later if things settle down," Janelle told CBC's Information Morning Nova Scotia.

Old Orchard Beach has been a popular summer destination for Quebecers and Maritimers for decades, given it's just a day's drive away.

The resort town in York County, about 30 kilometres south of Portland, was even recently cited by outgoing prime minister Justin Trudeau as a place Canadians would choose to avoid this summer amid the trade war.

Janelle estimates Canadians make up roughly 18 per cent of his bookings on average per year.

He said Trump's repeated threats of tariffs against a long-standing trade ally and the anger he has incited by suggesting the country become the 51st state has had a direct impact on consumers' behaviour in the tourism sector.

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However, Janelle noted that the would-be vacationers he's spoken to do not target his family-run business for what's happening in the White House.

"I think citizens on both sides of the border understand this is politics and they understand that it has nothing to do with the citizens. I think there's a warm relationship and I hear it on the phone," he said.

"People say, 'We love coming there. We love coming to the United States. However, we're really upset with what the government is doing.' And so they're able to differentiate."

Fewer Canadians driving south

Nearly 500,000 fewer travellers crossed the land border from Canada into the U.S. in February compared to the same month last year, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The number of travellers entering the U.S. in a passenger vehicle — the most common way to make the trip — dropped from 2,696,512 in February 2024 to 2,223,408 last month.

On the flip side, Canadian tourism operators are hopeful the trade spat will provide a boost to the local industry.

Canadians once destined for the U.S. have been rebooking their vacations within the country.

Nova Scotia's tourism board is even readying a new domestic ad campaign to "entice and inspire" travel to the province, "leveraging existing sentiment around Canadian vacations," a spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, operators are also hoping the weak Canadian dollar will coax Americans into travelling north.

'We understand'

Janelle said he hasn't adjusted the way he markets his business quite yet, as there is still too much uncertainty about how the trade war will play out.

He had this message for Canadians: "We're going to be here when things settle down."

Janelle said he appreciates why some of them have cancelled their travel plans.

"If they're not comfortable coming, we understand," he said.

"We understand their frustration and the pain that they feel. To have two good allies all of a sudden being adversarial, it just doesn't seem right."