Canadian tourism to the United States has plummeted by more than 30% following a period of heightened political tension, including threats of annexation and the imposition of trade tariffs by the Trump administration. This decline is being felt acutely across the northern border states and major cultural hubs, with cities like Seattle, Detroit, and Portland reporting significant drops in Canadian visitors.
This shift represents a major challenge for U.S. arts and cultural institutions that rely on Canadians as their largest group of international visitors. The downturn, fueled by an unofficial boycott and concerns over border policies, threatens the financial stability of museums and the hospitality sector, signaling a cooling of long-standing cross-border cultural and economic exchange.