NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — The newly strained relationship between the United States and Canada could potentially have a negative impact on tourism in Jersey Shore towns.
In the last few weeks, President Donald Trump has said Canada should be the 51st state of America, proposing to erase the more than 5,500-mile-long border that separates the two countries, and has gone back and forth on whether to impose hefty tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports. On Feb. 3, Trump agreed to a 30-day pause on his tariff threats.
This has caught the attention of towns and businesses down the shore, where Canadians make up a significant portion of summer tourism.
Wildwoods Marketing Director Ben Rose says so far, they are still getting reservations and there have been few cancellations. The most pressing matter for most Canadians, he says, is the exchange rate.
“We still feel we’re the best value — vacation value — for families. We have a lot of free things for families to do and experience in the Wildwoods. Number one, our beaches are all free,” Rose said.
John Donio with the Wildwood Business District says Canadians are valued customers and friends.
“We love the Canadian people. We are putting politics aside, we don’t think about that in the tourism business. We welcome the Canadian people and we want them to come here generation after generation as they always have,” Donio said.
“Everyone loves boardwalk pizza. Everyone loves a great roller coaster or a fun game on the boardwalk.”