‘We all feel this’: Washington border-town businesses appeal to diminishing B.C. travellers

Some border-town businesses in Washington state are hurting after a big drop in Canadian visits, and local officials are pleading for British Columbians to come back.

“We are still the same, we love you the same way, we respect you the same way as we have for the last 200 years, and these government issues will get resolved in a short window of time. As the population of Whatcom County, we welcome you anytime,” said County Executive Satpal Singh Sidhu.

Data from the Whatcom Council of Governments show a nearly 43 per cent drop in vehicles with B.C. licence plates heading into the United States at Lower Mainland border crossings last month compared to March 2024, and Sidhu says that is hurting local businesses.

“Our border economy is significantly dependent on Canadian traffic and customers,” he told 1130 NewsRadio, suggesting the weak Canadian dollar and “51st state” rhetoric from the Trump White House are a double blow to the bottom line of many Whatcom County businesses.

“The attitude of boycott is very emotional and very genuine, and I think anyone would react that way. It is having an impact. Several businesses are going into losses and feeling that if this thing continues for a few more months, they may have to close their business.”

He adds that the decline in sales tax revenue is also being felt by city and county governments.

“We feel all this — our projects, our budgets are based on overall calculations based on past years’ revenues … It is a serious impact.”

Sidhu is hoping hesitant Canadians will see past what he calls rhetoric from the White House and resume their visits to Washington state.

“It’s not only that we welcome you to come and only spend money — we welcome you to come and visit your family, come and visit your friends, come and travel, have your vacations. Please don’t consider this as a barrier,” he said.

“We can understand you are hurt by this strong rhetoric from our president, but as people of America, we welcome you all the time.”

Meanwhile, B.C.’s tourism sector is expecting American visits to the province will remain strong.

“We are not seeing the same kind of drop at all. Bookings, hotel rooms, people who’ve already booked on cruise ships — those people are coming,” said Sandra Oldfield, vice chair of the Tourism Industry Association of BC, who adds that there are also expectations for a bump in domestic tourism as Canadians choose to stay on this side of the border.

“It is a bit unclear how all this will flush out in a little while, but overall, I think tourism in British Columbia stands to gain a bit.”

Oldfield — an American who holds Canadian citizenship — feels that despite the drop in visits to the U.S., many Canadians with ties south of the border are continuing to travel to the States.

“They have family and friend connections and business connections. I don’t think they will change their plans much. But on the flip side, I think there are also Americans who generally would travel up to Canada who are a little nervous right now about the type of reception they are going to receive.”

Oldfield doesn’t expect many problems with Canadian individuals or businesses welcoming American tourists.

“The 51st state talk is very upsetting, but at the end of the day, I think both sides really do understand that we’ve been friends for a couple centuries and it’s going to take more than this to change that.”