Travel agencies say some Canadians are boycotting U.S. travel
With looming U.S. tariffs, the surge of Canadian patriotism has extended to people’s travel choices
As Canadians look to warmer places to escape a frigid February, travel agents in Saskatchewan say some have been cancelling trips to the U.S. in reaction to looming tariff threats.
"People that we already have booked into California, Florida or Texas are [saying], 'maybe we should change our reservations and we should go to Mexico for a week,'" Nancy Thingelstad, the manager of Marlin Travel Swift Current, said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he would like to make Canada the 51st U.S. state and plans to implement multiple tariffs on Canada, including 25 per cent on all Canadian imports and another 25 per cent on steel and aluminum.
Canadian patriotism extends to travel
These threats have stoked Canadian patriotism. Some people have been boycotting U.S. items. Now, that boycott has extended to travel.
"[With] both the exchange rate and the political issues that are going on, people are just being cautious, and at this time they're looking for alternate destinations to travel to," Thingelstad said.
The agent said she hasn't seen a U.S. travel boycott like this since Americans banned Canadian beef during the mad cow disease crisis in 2003.
Thingelstad said the agency usually gets a lot of bookings to Disneyland in California, Disneyworld in Florida and Texas. But people are now opting for Mexico or Europe instead.
With fewer U.S. vacations, tourism within Canada could be on the rise. CBC spoke to travellers in Saskatoon about their upcoming plans.
"I would prefer to travel here if I can and avoid U.S. at all costs right now," Tyler Henry said.
World C Travel in Regina said it has also been seeing U.S. cancellations.
"I've seen some differences because of the political views. They prefer to go to other destinations than the U.S.," Rajan Sagar, the manager of the agency, said.
"In [the] U.S. it doesn't come all-inclusive. So your living expenses, your food expenses, your travelling expenses, it all comes at the additional cost. And for Canadians it's going to be high because the rate has been disrupted for the dollars."
Thingelstad predicted that the number of flights leaving Saskatchewan to the U.S. will go down and airlines will be using smaller planes in the coming months.
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With files from Jeffrey Tram