British Columbians aren’t visiting Washington State very much these days. Read More
Data shows number of people who travelled to Washington State fell by a third in February and half in March compared to the same months last year
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British Columbians aren’t visiting Washington State very much these days.
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The number of people crossing the border into Washington in March fell by nearly half compared to the same period last year, according to data collected by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Washington State’s Department of Transportation.
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Just over 121,000 vehicles with B.C. plates crossed the border in March, compared with 216,000 in March 2024.
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Crossings in February were down by nearly a third compared to last year.
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U.S. President Donald Trump first announced tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods in February and then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadians to spend domestically in response.
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“Now is the time to choose Canada. … It might mean changing your summer vacation plans to stay here in Canada and explore the many national and provincial parks, historical sites and tourist destinations our great country has to offer,” Trudeau said at the time.
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David Blandford, executive-director of State of Washington Tourism, said in an email that he is hearing reports of Canadian travellers changing their plans “due to the current political situation.”
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“As our top international market, Canadian visitors play a vital role in our tourism economy,” Blandford said.
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“We want to emphasize that Washington remains a welcoming destination for all travellers from Canada,” he said, noting the strong relationship between B.C. and Washington.
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Canada is the largest source of international visitors to the U.S., according to the U.S. Travel Association, which warned in February that a 10 per cent reduction in Canadian travel to the U.S. could mean $2.1 billion in lost spending and 14,000 job losses.
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With over 2.3 million B.C. cars crossing the border into Washington State each year in 2023 and 2024, a lengthy travel boycott could severely impact tourism in the state.
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Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund said in February that her office had received many messages from British Columbians stating they had cancelled upcoming vacations and changed their shopping habits.
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“It’s regrettable,” the mayor said at the time. “Regardless of what’s coming out of the other Washington, I know this Washington — and Bellingham in particular — feels an incredible closeness, and values our connections and connectedness to each other.
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“I hope we can continue to maintain close ties. I want to reach out and affirm our connections and say how much we value our neighbours to the north.”
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The current exchange rate is likely contributing to the drop in Canadians heading to the U.S., too. On Monday it cost $1.44 to buy $1 US, according to the Bank of Canada.
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