Canadian’s boycott of traveling to the United States is hitting hard on the sandy coasts of California, leading the state governor to return a social media tone plaque.
Governor Gavin Newsom, in a video this week, urges the two million Canadians who visited last year to look beyond the president of the United States, Donald Trump, and return to enjoy the wine, the sun and the surf of Golden State.
Newsom, without calling Trump by name, says that Canadians should not let a dust with Washington prevent them from renewing their love story with their coastal paradise.
“Of course, you know that he is trying to stir things in DC, but do not let that ruin your beach plans,” says Newsom in the video, which is part of an American advertising of $ 5.2 million to attract Canucks back to the border.
Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, launched a tourist campaign to attract Canadians to the golden state in the middle of a decrease in visits. In a video posted on social networks, it is distanced to the state of the actions of the White House and urges Canadian tourists to enjoy the sun, surf and wine that their state has to offer. BC today receives Michelle Eliot and McKenzie McMilan, a travel consultant with the travel group, listened to the people who call that they are not buying the Newsom message.
The Canadians have abruptly reduced vacation plans to the south of the border in recent weeks, given an current tariff war with the United States, a relatively weak dollar, reports of travelers arrested by US officials and Trump openly reflected on the annexation of the country.
Although Trump recently yielded from his verbal attacks against Canada, the White House Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, reiterated on Tuesday that he still believes that Canada should become the state 51.
California estimates that Canadians are the second largest international speakers for their tourist economy, and state tourism officials say that Canadian visits fell 12 percent in February compared to the same month last year.
“We want to communicate and say: ‘You are always welcome here when you are ready to travel,'” said Caroline Beteta, president of the state tourism seller led by the Visit California industry.
BC Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon, who leads the province’s response to the commercial war, told journalists on Tuesday that the announcement was clearly in response to statistics that show that traveling south of the border has collapsed, with a traffic bound for the US.
“There is a reason why there are ads led by US states.
“We believe that all rates should leave. And so, I am proud of the Canadians. I am proud of the British Colombians.”
Travel agents say that traveling to the United States down
In Canada, travel agents paint an image of gloomy.
McKenzie McMillan, travel consultant from the Vancouver -based travel group, said the agency’s general business has remained stable since customers have chosen to avoid the United States for Europe, Asia and Mexico. But business to the United States has dried virtually.
“We have seen an almost total collapse of US businesses. We have some businesses based on our corporate clients that travel for conferences or for meeting meetings,” McMillan said in an interview.
“But for leisure trips, we have almost seen a complete fall … Probably about a 90 percent drop since February.”
McMillan said tourisms should do more to make a launch for Canadians to return.
“There is anger among Canadian travelers, not so much with Americans, but with the federal government in the United States and in another scope that I have seen, nobody has addressed that exact problem,” he said.
McMillan said that California’s campaign is a bit more cheerful and seems to be aimed at younger travelers.
“It makes it very clear that the state of California is not interested in aligning with federal government policies when it relates to Canada,” said McMillan.
“For many Canadians who have made an emotional decision to avoid the United States, this could resonate with them.”
Lesley Keyter, the CEO and founder of the Lady Travel Agency in Calgary, said that traveler’s concerns and anxieties are real, so much that they vote with their wallets, or vote to leave their wallets.
“I’ve seen people who really lose money to cancel their trips to go there,” Keyter said in an interview.
“Even if they go to a Cruise for the Caribbean, they do not want to go to Fort Lauderdale to climb to the cruise.”
