Canadian Travel Freeze Hits New York, Vermont, Maine, Washington, Montana, North Dakota and More as US Launches ‘America the Beautiful’ Campaign and Border States Roll Out Emergency Tourism Discounts – Travel And Tour World

A sharp decline in Canadian travel has triggered an urgent tourism freeze across key northern US states including New York, Vermont, Maine, Washington, Montana, North Dakota and more, forcing local economies to roll out emergency discounts to lure back lost visitors. With car crossings from Canada down over 35% and hotel bookings plummeting by as much as 73% in some areas, the economic toll is rapidly spreading. In response, regional campaigns are offering exclusive Canadian-only perks, while Brand USA has stepped in at the national level, launching the “America the Beautiful” campaign during IPW 2025 in Chicago — a global push to revive international tourism, reconnect with long-haul travelers, and reestablish the United States as a premier destination amid growing cross-border fallout.

Northern Border Towns Hit Hard by Missing Tourists

In one rural region near the border, local businesses report that around 70% of their leisure travel market typically comes from Canadian visitors. This year, bookings are noticeably down at hotels, campsites, and boat marinas.

Golf resorts have seen spring business drop by 30%, a loss tied directly to the absence of Canadian guests. Campgrounds are half-full, beach towns are quieter, and marina operators say boating activity from Canadian visitors has slowed to a crawl.

Across nearby mountain trail networks, Canadian tourists — particularly cyclists and outdoor adventurers — are skipping their usual summer visits. Trail managers say the proportion of Canadian riders has fallen by 50% compared to last year, and small businesses built around those travelers are now seeing fewer customers.

At a popular resort close to the border, Canadian guests typically account for 60% of summer traffic. With new bookings slowing, the risk of staff layoffs is growing. In one recent example, a single canceled group tour from Canada led to a loss of $35,000 in revenue for a local lodging provider.

Regional Discounts Aim to Bring Canadians Back

To counter the losses, local tourism campaigns are offering aggressive incentives. One regional chamber launched a cross-border discount program at the start of June, offering 30% off hotel stays and free recreational rentals to Canadian travelers. Some golf destinations are throwing in complimentary gifts, while lakeside equipment rental shops are giving away full-day gear use with proof of Canadian ID — even adding free drink vouchers for partnered beachside restaurants.

Other hospitality groups are following suit with offers like up to 15% discounts plus complimentary extras for Canadian guests. In some cases, visitors from Canada can take advantage of “at-par” pricing, paying in Canadian dollars at face value for goods and services priced in US currency — a meaningful benefit while the exchange rate remains strong in favor of the US dollar.

A two-day craft festival in July, showcasing nearly 80 regional breweries, is offering these same parity deals while also featuring guest brewers from Quebec to boost binational collaboration.

Some states have also updated highway signage and welcome centers with bilingual messaging in both English and French, aiming to reconnect culturally with cross-border neighbors.

National Tourism Campaign Launches to Revive International Travel

While regional efforts play out on the ground, a major national campaign has launched to re-energize global tourism interest. A new initiative branded under the name “America the Beautiful” made its debut at a leading industry conference in June. The campaign features a next-generation travel planning platform powered by artificial intelligence and designed to help international travelers explore US destinations through immersive storytelling and custom itineraries.

The campaign’s website delivers personalized travel recommendations using smart planning tools and promotes upcoming American milestones expected to attract international attention.

Among the key events spotlighted as tourism drivers over the next decade:

• A nationwide celebration of the 250th anniversary of US independence in 2026
• The FIFA World Cup 2026, with matches held across multiple American cities
• The Route 66 Centennial, honoring a historic cross-country highway
• The Summer Olympics in 2028
• The Winter Olympics in 2034
• The Rugby World Cups from 2031 to 2033

New Attractions Add to the Draw

In addition to large-scale events, new destination highlights are opening across the country, including:

• A new major theme park set to redefine entertainment in central Florida
• A second location for a popular adventure park featuring iconic toy brands
• A museum dedicated to regional barbecue styles
• An AI art museum positioned as the first of its kind globally
• A luxury boutique hotel redefining rural travel experiences
• A 34-mile scenic rail trail built for nature lovers and cyclists
• A wildlife eco-lodge within a major US zoo offering overnight stays

These attractions represent a shift toward more diverse, niche, and culturally rich travel experiences — designed to appeal to younger travelers, families, and those seeking deeper engagement with American landscapes, cuisine, and innovation.

Measurable Impact Already in Motion

The effort is backed by promising figures. In the last fiscal year:

• The campaign generated 1.6 million additional international visitors
• These visitors spent $6 billion
• The effort supported close to 80,000 jobs
• Federal tax revenue increased by $1.7 billion
• The overall economic impact exceeded $12.9 billion

Yet despite those gains, the Canadian market — once the largest source of international visitors to the US — has now become the most urgent concern.

Canada Travel Decline by the Numbers

According to official data:

• Car travel from Canada to the US fell by 35.2% in April year-over-year
• That marked the fourth consecutive monthly decline
• Air travel by Canadians to the US dropped nearly 20% during the same period

In one northwestern state, restaurant revenue is down 50% in a town that once relied heavily on Canadian visitors. Another rural region has already reported $13.4 million in lost Canadian spending.

Even a 10% drop in Canadian travel spending would cost the US economy an estimated $2 billion — and current figures suggest the decline is already well above that threshold in many northern regions.

A sharp freeze in Canadian travel has hit New York, Vermont, Maine, Washington, Montana, North Dakota and more especially hard, forcing emergency discounts across border towns as Brand USA launches its global “America the Beautiful” campaign to revive international tourism and prevent deeper economic fallout.

A Crossroads for the Travel Sector

If the travel freeze from Canada continues, more than just northern states will feel the pressure. Last year, Canadian tourists contributed over $20 billion to the US economy and supported approximately 140,000 jobs nationwide. The downturn is no longer hypothetical — it’s already visible in hotel vacancies, empty bike trails, and half-booked events.

The combined push — national storytelling, AI-driven trip planning, and regional discounts — sends a clear message: the US travel sector wants its Canadian visitors back. And it’s pulling out all the stops to make that happen.