US tourism groups want to win Canadian visitors back. A testy trade war isn’t helping

ASSOCIATED PRESS •September 6, 2026

The number of Canadians traveling to the United States plunged after President Donald Trump returned to office with remarks about making Canada the 51st state. An acrimonious trade war between the two countries now is threatening to reinforce the informal boycott just as it appeared to be easing slightly. Josh Loewen, a Vancouver marketing executive, said of the U.S. tourism industry’s attempts to woo Canadians like him back before a new president occupies the White House. “It’s just a wasted effort.”