Destinations Continue to Court Canadians
Destinations in the U.S. that are used to seeing tons of happy Canadian tourist faces are starting to feel the pinch of our collective absence. Border towns and popular tourist destinations are facing a slow summer season as Canadians stay home or head to Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean in lieu of New York, California and all points in between.
The 1000 Islands recently launched a charm offensive for Canadians, starting with a warm letter stating “Here on the American side of the 1000 Islands, we understand that crossing the border right now isn’t high on your priority list. But I hope you know that we are thinking of you and value our relationship more than ever.”
Director of Thousand Islands International Tourism Council, Corey Fram is travelling to Toronto to speak to Canadian media members in person, emphasizing the relationships and shared history of the region. “The 1000 Islands isn’t about politics. It’s about people. It’s about the families who’ve made this their vacation tradition for generations,” the letter states. “It’s about the friendships that don’t stop at the border. It’s a destination that celebrates its uniqueness of American and Canadian soil.”
Meanwhile on the other side of the country, the State of California is also issuing heartfelt welcomes and pleas for Canadians to return to the Golden State. Governor Gavin Newsome and Visit California President & CEO Caroline Beteta are launching a campaign designed to entice us back.
“California is committed to rolling out the red carpet for our Canadian visitors, whenever you’re ready to visit,” Beteta said. “California and Canada share so much in common. Our inclusive values, love of natural beauty and passion for innovation bind us, and we look forward to welcoming you back with the same community spirit you’ve always shown us.”
With 1.8 Canadians travelling to California last year, we make up the second-largest global market for the state. Over the coming months Visit California plans to unveil several initiatives to “extend the olive branch” to prospective visitors, including a Canadian promotion from Expedia.
Other countries are recognizing that the reluctance of Canadians to travel to the States could mean an opportunity to capitalize on those tourist dollars. Both Turks and Caicos and Barbados have issued invitations and promotions to Canadian travellers, and Berlin recently added to the mix.
“Due to the current political situation, Canadian travellers are on the lookout for new destinations,” says Burkhard Kieker, CEO of visitBerlin. “This is a good time to promote Berlin as an exciting travel destination. I expect the number of guests from Canada travelling to Berlin to increase significantly.”
The connectivity between Canada and Germany is increasing, with a new flight between Toronto and Berlin beginning June 19, 2025 on Air Transat. The seasonal flight will fly Thursdays and Sundays until Oct. 24, 2025. A new Calgary-Munich flight was also recently announced by Discover Airlines.
Here is the message from Berlin:
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