A lot of Canadians skipped US vacations & vacationed in some of the far reaching Areas of Canada. Many went to Mexico, or at least, my family haha. Personally I check labels on EVERYTHING, Canadian made, I will pay double if I have to, to support my country. If there's a US label, it goes back on the shelf. I have stopped USA shopping online as well & choose other countries to support :) Canada Strong!!!! Yaye!
Here in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico I carry a man-purse with a Canadian flag attached with Velcro to the flap. Mexicans here are always polite and "buen dia" is pretty standard on the streets. When they see the flag I get a smile with the greeting. Some who have been to Canada stop for a quick chat. They ask where I'm from, tell me where they've been. I like that.
It really captures the broader shift... Canadians aren’t staying home, they’re simply choosing different destinations. And other countries are noticing.
Tourism dollars are one of the quietest but most powerful economic signals people send.
Thanks for sharing that perspective from the ground.
I worked in Tourism management for 20 years. We saw all kinds of swings over the years in tourism numbers from Europe as well as the USA. But the changes the US destinations are seeing the past twelve months are astounding especially for small tourism companies.
At one point Las Vegas had lost 70% of accommodations in hotels. You need 70% capacity to keep a hotel functioning over a 12 month period. Granted most of them have casinos to support the hotels but not the food or booze or entertainment part they offer.
I recall many people thinking that tourism was not an "important" issue in their communities, especially in rural regions. Going in to speak to them and pointing out the numerous industries that were in fact part of tourism opened many eyes.
Talk to a local grocery store close to a provincial park and campground and they will tell you!
There are always at least a few independence movements simmering away within various US states. Geez. They must be significantly closer to a boil now. I wonder what it'd take for quote-unquote mainstream per-state politics to begin seriously considering a break from the Union? How many more years of this?
A lot of Canadians skipped US vacations & vacationed in some of the far reaching Areas of Canada. Many went to Mexico, or at least, my family haha. Personally I check labels on EVERYTHING, Canadian made, I will pay double if I have to, to support my country. If there's a US label, it goes back on the shelf. I have stopped USA shopping online as well & choose other countries to support :) Canada Strong!!!! Yaye!
You’re definitely not alone, Patsy.
What’s interesting right now is that consumer behaviour is becoming part of the economic story.
When enough people make similar choices... travel, shopping, where money goes... it sends signals that markets and governments both notice.
And exploring more of Canada isn’t a bad side effect either.
There’s a lot of country here people hadn’t seen before.
Here in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico I carry a man-purse with a Canadian flag attached with Velcro to the flap. Mexicans here are always polite and "buen dia" is pretty standard on the streets. When they see the flag I get a smile with the greeting. Some who have been to Canada stop for a quick chat. They ask where I'm from, tell me where they've been. I like that.
I love this, Jim.
It really captures the broader shift... Canadians aren’t staying home, they’re simply choosing different destinations. And other countries are noticing.
Tourism dollars are one of the quietest but most powerful economic signals people send.
Thanks for sharing that perspective from the ground.
I worked in Tourism management for 20 years. We saw all kinds of swings over the years in tourism numbers from Europe as well as the USA. But the changes the US destinations are seeing the past twelve months are astounding especially for small tourism companies.
At one point Las Vegas had lost 70% of accommodations in hotels. You need 70% capacity to keep a hotel functioning over a 12 month period. Granted most of them have casinos to support the hotels but not the food or booze or entertainment part they offer.
I recall many people thinking that tourism was not an "important" issue in their communities, especially in rural regions. Going in to speak to them and pointing out the numerous industries that were in fact part of tourism opened many eyes.
Talk to a local grocery store close to a provincial park and campground and they will tell you!
That’s fantastic real-world insight, Gail... and it highlights exactly how interconnected tourism really is.
People often think hotels and flights, but it’s groceries, restaurants, fuel, retail, seasonal jobs… entire local economies.
When visitor patterns shift, small businesses feel it first and hardest.
Really appreciate you sharing your experience.
Trump doesn’t care he is getting his
https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2026/02/12/canadian-visits-fall-january-trump-slump/
There are always at least a few independence movements simmering away within various US states. Geez. They must be significantly closer to a boil now. I wonder what it'd take for quote-unquote mainstream per-state politics to begin seriously considering a break from the Union? How many more years of this?