Canadians turn their backs on the neighbor next door

More Canadians are rethinking about traveling to the United States as a mix of political tensions, economic policies and consumer attitudes reshape their views of their southern neighbor.

"One major factor is President Donald Trump's policy," said Frederic Dimanche, director of the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management in Toronto. "The fact that he started to impose tariffs on Canadian goods, the economic trade war."

Trump has also repeatedly said Canada should become the 51st US state.

Dimanche said such rhetoric has left many Canadians feeling uncomfortable and angry.

"Some people in the past few weeks have canceled vacations, have canceled trips or have not made reservations. We know from tour operators, travel agencies and airlines that reservations for the United States have been down."

Michael Dorne, 47, of Toronto, said he had planned to travel to Los Angeles this month but had canceled his trip.

"When I saw the tariff on us on TV, I figured I'd go somewhere else instead. Why should I go to a country that's hurting us?"

Last month, Flight Centre Travel Group Canada reported a 40 percent decrease in leisure bookings for the US compared with the corresponding month last year.

Over the past three months the travel group has experienced a 20 percent cancellation rate on pre-existing trips to the US, with many travelers rebooking for other destinations, said Amra Durakovic, head of communications for Flight Centre Travel Group Canada.

Next month the US is due to begin enforcing a rule requiring Canadians visiting the country for more than 30 days to register and provide fingerprints.

"That's going to be another barrier in the mind of people," Dimanche said.

"People are going to say: 'Oh, now they want us to register. They want us to be fingerprinted.' And that's not going to help the reputation of our neighbor."

However, not all Canadians are staying away, and one of those is Nathan Cromwell, 26, of Toronto.

"I go to the US about twice a month, mostly on weekends — mainly just to eat and hang out with friends. I mean, it's super close. Niagara Falls is right there, and the US is just on the other side. So if it's that easy, why not go?"

Dimanche said a rebound in travel by Canadians may eventually happen, but this is unlikely to happen soon.

The effect extends beyond Canada, he said.

"It's not only Canadians who are reacting. The Mexicans and Europeans are starting to react as well. They are also starting to boycott travel to the United States.

A weaker Canadian dollar is another significant factor, Dimanche said.

"The cost of traveling to the US will grow dramatically, and that's another reason why Canadians will be hesitant to travel to the United States at the moment."

gaoyang@chinadailyusa.com