Results from a September survey conducted by the Minneapolis Federal Reserve and Hospitality Minnesota show there are concerns about a drop in Canadian tourism.
87 of the 135 respondents reported a change. 60% of those 87 are reporting a decline in traffic, a snapshot from around the state.
"You know, for those businesses along the border that really rely on that, you know, car traveler or easy travel, we're seeing declines in up to 40%," explains Hospitality Minnesota President and CEO Angie Whitcomb. "Now when you see that over a season, that is significant to those businesses, bottom lines, and these are typically smaller resorts, always, almost always, independently owned."
Whitcomb says while the numbers aren't concrete, there are some reports that Canadian sports teams are backing out of tournaments heading into the winter season.
"That is more anecdotal, I don't have data to support that other than conversations I've had with the folks that are running these arenas and fields," Whitcomb explains. "So, it'll be interesting to watch this hockey season as things continue, and maybe don't improve in that area, what the tourism impact, what we're going to feel."
Explore Minnesota reports that Canada is Minnesota’s top international tourism customer. Canadians account for over 55% of the state’s international visitors in 2024. 335,000 travelers came to the state from Canada and generated approximately $110 million in spending.
In first four months of 2025 combined, the quantity of Canadian travelers arriving in Minnesota was down by 3.5% relative to 2024.
The results shared by Hospitality Minnesota didn't come with reasons for the drop, but there's been increased rhetoric between the two, longtime friendly nations.
President Donald Trump’s return to the White House came with multiple rounds of tariffs, immigration crackdowns and repeated jabs about the U.S. acquiring Canada and Greenland. Those appear to have alienated travelers from other parts of the world.
Travel analysts warn this drop could persist well into the future. From northern border towns to major hot spots like Las Vegas and Los Angeles, popular travel destinations reported hosting fewer foreign visitors this summer.