It has been a difficult beginning for the golf season for Paul Dame, owner of Bluff Point Golf Resort in Plattsburgh, New York, about 100 kilometers south of Montreal.
In the last two months, he said, businesses for golf and accommodations have collapsed 30 percent compared to the same period last year. Give me attributes much of the decline to much less Canadian golfers, which generally represent approximately half of their business.
He said that many previous Canadian clients have told him that they are avoiding the United States and, therefore, their golf course, due to the anger for the commercial war of President Donald Trump and the threats to make Canada the State 51.
“They don’t like to be asked, and to be honest, I really can’t blame them,” Dame told me. “It is discouraging to have something completely out of my control that is causing my business to have a great recession.”
In an effort to show Canadians who are welcome, give me now offers them a couple of gifts: a golf ball bucket to practice in the field management field and a gift game of three golf balls adorned with Canadian symbols, like a beaver and a hockey shirt.
“The idea is that, ‘hey, this is a gift from us to show that we care and show that we appreciate you,” he said.
Dame joins many other tourism operators throughout the United States that offer special agreements for Canadians to try to convince them to cross the border, just in time for the summer trip season.
The bets are high. Canadians traditionally make up the largest group of international tourists to the United States in 2024, spent $ 20.5 billion in the country, According to the United States Travel Association.
But that tourist market began to decrease after Trump took office in January. In April, The number of return trips among Canadians Traveling to the United States fell by 19.9 percent for air trips and in the huge 35.2 percent for land trips, compared to the same time last year.
“We are really starting to see the impact now … Everyone is scared,” said Kristy Kennedy, Marketing Vice President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce. It helps promote companies in the Adirondack region in the state of New York, including Plattsburgh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_cq2ivf1ki
To encourage its northern neighbors to visit, in April the camera launched an advertising television campaign in Ottawa and in all Quebec. Is also ready to launch A web page On June 1, that will list tourism -related companies that offer exclusive discounts for Canadians.
Kennedy said the offers will include a 20 percent discount at the Best Western Hotel and a free free rent in the Adirondack Elliptigo bicycle store, both in Plattsburgh.
“We understand that there were injured feelings, but we understand that Plattsburgh and the Adirondack region value it and we want this relationship to continue,” Kennedy said. “We are ready to display that red carpet.”
As Canadian trips to the United States continue to decrease, CBC News has found several professional conferences relocated to Canada to avoid new and hard border security measures in the United States. A sociologist describes to be roasted by US customs officers who registered their phone and wallet.
Are offers enough?
Back at Bluff Point Golf Resort, Dame said you can also offer some golf discounts mid -week. But he worries that the agreements may not be enough to repair Canada’s fractured relationship with the United States
“If your friend insults you, you don’t give them $ 10 and be friends again,” he said.
Outside the CN tower, a popular tourist destination in Toronto, several Canadians told CBC News that the United States is outside its destination, regardless of any promotion.
“Due to Trump, I’m not going to travel to the United States,” said Laura Livlik. “I don’t like his position about gender and trans rights. I really don’t like anything he is doing there, and it makes me nervous to travel there.”
Nilay Shah said Trump needs to end her commercial war to do things well with Canadians.
“[A] The discount is a temporary bandage, nothing more. “
But Maggie Hill said the agreements could attract her to cross the border.
“Especially in the United States, I think a good discount would definitely make a difference,” he said, referring to the Canadian dollar, which is currently worth 72 cents.
The weak Loonie was part of La Razón Visit California, the tourist organization of the State, launched a website This month offers Canadian discounts in more than 1,000 hotels, activities and attractions in California.
Published offers include a 20 percent discount in the Little Italy Hotel in downtown San Diego and a 15 % discount on a massage in Studio Soothe Day Spa in San Francisco.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6Whropdfts
The campaign includes a promotional video advertisement that celebrates Canada’s ties with the State.
“We sat down and said: ‘How do we approach that olive branch? … It couldn’t be just a sincere gesture,” said Caroline Beteta, president and executive director of Visit California. “There had to be something real, because the reality is, the [U.S.] The dollar is so strong at this time. “
The organization was associated with the Expedia online travel agency to offer offers. In several cases, Canadians must register for free membership membership rewards to take advantage of offers.
Seattle’s campaign declares success
On the coast from California, a base campaign to attract Canadians to visit Seattle recently finished.
Bent Open arms for Canada40 local companies, from restaurants to hotels, offered Canadian discounts of 30 percent from May 9 to 11, when the Toronto Blue Jays were in the city to play Seattle sailors.
Howard Wright, president of the Seattle Hospitality Group, who helped organize the campaign, said it was successful, with the Canadians taking advantage of the discounts more than 1,000 times for three days.
“Isn’t it incredible?” Wright said, adding that organizers can offer offers again at different times during the summer.
He said that the best part of the campaign was that he sent an important message, one that hopes that he continues to resonate, even after the United Canada-United States relations are repaired.
“What I hope is that after this is behind us, that people remember that we approach and said: ‘Hey, I love them, come'”.
