Tourist towns are preparing for a potential decline in Canadian visitors to Maine and New Hampshire beaches this summer amid rising tensions between the two countries.
York hotelier Joe Lipton said he heard about Canadian fans recently booing the “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a hockey game between the national teams, following President Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs and remarks suggesting Canada become the United States’ 51st state.
Lipton, the owner of the ViewPoint Hotel and Stones Throw at York Beach, pointed out Canadians have historically frequented popular destinations such as Old Orchard Beach, York, and New Hampshire’s beaches, including Hampton.
However, he said this summer may be different, mainly due to Canada’s weak dollar. Additionally, he couldn’t rule out the impact of Trump’s threats of tariffs and talk of annexing Canada.
“I think it’s kind of up in the air,” Lipton said. “But I don’t think it’s being helpful.”
Canadian tourism in question amid Trump’s feud with Canada
Businesses along Maine and New Hampshire’s coast say they have concerns about whether Canadians will return in the same numbers this year as they have in the past. Tourists from Canada typically visit just before the Fourth of July and again at the end of July through early August. The two weeks from late July into early August coincide with the Construction Holiday in Canada.
Laura Dolce, president of the Maine Beaches Association and the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Arundel Chamber of Commerce, said businesses have heard some Canadians say they would not return because of the current political situation.
“Losing any of our Canadian visitors this summer is a tough prospect,” Dolce said.
The Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce in New Hampshire met with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, in February for a roundtable on the impact of possible tariffs and federal funding freezes. Chamber President John Nyhan wrote in a February newsletter that members expected a “major negative impact” if the White House follows through with tariffs and nonprofit grant freezes.
“One group of responses were from the beach lodging members, where they reported a growing number of cancellations from our Canadian visitors due to the uncertainty of a Canadian tariff increase,” Nyhan wrote.
Currency exchange rate is not favorable to Canadian tourists
Some business owners say the issue is less about politics and more about the value of the Canadian dollar.
Hampton Selectman Chuck Rage, who owns the Pelham Hotel at Hampton Beach, believes the current exchange rate is a significant factor in whether Canadians visit. The exchange rate is currently 30%, meaning 70 cents to the Canadian dollar, which is higher compared to years when the Canadian dollar was stronger.
“If we were at 15%, they’d be flocking down,” Rage said.
Tom McGuirk, owner of McGuirk’s Ocean View, agreed the exchange rate will be a major deciding factor in whether Canadians travel. He also said he has noticed fewer Canadians in recent years.
“I don’t think it’s going to make a huge bottom-line difference,” McGuirk said, “But obviously it’s good to attract as many consumers as possible.”
A recent survey, the Blue Cross Travel Study, looked at 2,072 Canadians who had traveled in the past 12 months, or plan to travel in the next year, according to a Yahoo Finance report. According to the results, 81% of Canadian travelers have changed their travel habits due to the rising costs, a 12 percentage point increase compared to last year.
Rage said he does not get a lot of Canadian clients, but a few of his regular bookings from Canada have not rebooked. He said whether it’s due to the value of the dollar or the political climate, the beach could see fewer Canadians in 2025.
“I’m concerned for the beach,” Rage said.
Maine state officials, business leaders continue to welcome Canadians
Maine tourism leaders say they are doing what they can to put out a welcoming message to Canadians despite tensions at the federal level.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills has sparred with Trump herself in recent weeks. The Democrat pushed back on the president’s threat of withholding funding if Maine does not comply with an executive order barring transgender girls athletes in schools from competing in girls sports. Mills told the president, “We’ll see you in court.”
Maine state Sen. Mark Lawrence, D-York, has served on the Maine-Canadian Legislative Advisory Commission since the 1980s helping facilitate relations between Maine and its northern neighbor.
Lawrence believes federal tensions between Trump and Canada are disappointing given how important the relationship is between Maine and Canada. He said Canadians can make up 30%-40% of southern Maine’s tourist market in a given season.
At the same time, he is not worried Trump has burned the bridge with Canadian tourists. He said he has found they have a lot of respect for Americans despite a political environment in Washington, D.C., that may not always make sense to them.
“There’s a lot of patience and understanding,” Lawrence said. “This kind of cross-border relations goes back 400 years.”
That said, not all Canadian tourists are choosing the U.S. for their vacation destination.
Ed Hodgdon, grant manager at Maine Beaches, recently returned from the Outdoor Adventure Show, a conference in Toronto where agencies work to attract tourists to their region.
Hodgdon, who attended with the Maine Office of Tourism, said he went prepared with answers for any Canadians who wanted to get heated over the news around Trump and Canada.
“I was ready. I was mentally waiting for someone to come up and start yelling,” Hodgdon said.
Instead, “Canadian politeness won the day,” he said. No one mentioned Trump or politics, he said. Some said they were returning, while others said they weren’t. Many gave no reason, he said, although some mentioned the exchange rate.
“‘Are you thinking about a Maine vacation?’ and they would just politely say, ‘Well, no, not right now,’” Hodgdon said. “’We love Maine, but we won’t see you for a few years.’”
Hodgdon took that as a sign Canadians are not done with Maine even if they are done with Trump. He said an uneasiness remains as business owners watch to see how it pans out for the 2025 tourist season.
“I think there is a general nervousness about anything when it comes to any business owner,” Hodgdon said. “That’s in any case if you think that your livelihood could be affected.”
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