Canadians boycott U.S. travel over Trump's comments and tariffs

There is a wave of travel boycott against the United States in Canada. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that Canada, which shares a border with the United States, should be made the 51st state of the U.S. and has imposed tariffs on Canadian goods. Travel agencies are being inundated with inquiries about canceling U.S. travel reservations.

On the 16th (local time), The Washington Post (WP) reported, "Many Canadians are startled and angry due to President Trump's remarks and actions," adding, "Some Canadians are canceling their trips to the U.S., and others are sending messages to Americans to convey their feelings."

One of Canada's largest travel agencies, "Flight Centre Canada," reported that about 20% of leisure travel bookings to the U.S. have been canceled in the past three months. Last month, the number of bookings for Canadians traveling to the U.S. decreased by 40% compared to the same period last year. A Spokesperson for "Flight Centre Canada" stated that both of these figures are unprecedented levels in its 30-year history, excluding the coronavirus pandemic.

Previously, WestJet, an airline headquartered in Calgary, Canada, also noted that the trade war between the U.S. and Canada has reduced demand for travel to the U.S. Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO of WestJet, stated last month, "Interest in traveling to the U.S. has decreased by about 25%," and added, "The trade war is something this country, this continent, and this world must avoid."

Travel to the U.S. on the part of institutions and corporations is also being canceled one after another. According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), some school districts in Manitoba have withdrawn plans for student trips to the U.S. due to concerns for the safety of students and staff. The Canadian law firm "Paskin Martineau Dumoulin" canceled a partner event scheduled for April in Las Vegas after President Trump's tariff threats, and another law firm, "Epstein Cole," also canceled its trip planned for Las Vegas this month.

The reason Canadians are embarking on a travel boycott against the U.S. is their resentment towards President Trump. Earlier, President Trump stated that he would annex Canada as the 51st state and made provocative remarks about Justin Trudeau, referring to him as a "governor." Additionally, he started imposing a 25% tariff on Canadian imports from the 4th. Afterward, the U.S. government temporarily suspended tariff application for one month on items covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), but high tariffs are expected to be imposed once this period ends.

They believe that President Trump has "insulted" Canada. According to cancellation messages received from travel-related institutions and corporations obtained by WP, a 61-year-old A said to Lauderdale Travel, "Florida has been our family's travel destination since I was a child, but now, family, friends, neighbors, and many Canadians will boycott not only Florida but all U.S. travel destinations."

A stated, "This is sad but necessary," and added, "Because the U.S. president has insulted all Canadians and said Canada is not needed, there is no choice. He is threatening our livelihoods and sovereignty." B, who had planned to visit Oregon, also said, "I love Oregon and had planned to visit again this year," adding, "However, because of the president's remarks about Canada, we have to cancel our trip."

Heather Pelham, a tourism manager in Vermont, noted that her office has received over 20 travel cancellation messages from Canadians and stated, "The messages strongly reflect hurt feelings."