Over the past few years, things have been tense between Canada and the United States, especially when it comes to trade. Recently, the U.S. has been slapping hefty tariffs on Canadian goods, and that hasn’t exactly sat well with Canadians. In fact, it’s sparked a new sense of patriotism, making a lot of people rethink their travel plans. Instead of heading to the U.S., many Canadians are now choosing to vacation within their own country.
This travel shift is especially popular within younger Canadians. For example, Ethan and Tyler who are students at SAIT, said how they’d rather stay in Canada for their future trips.
“If I had a trip planned, I’d want to support Canada’s economy by staying local.”
Ethan explained. Tyler agreed, saying he’d spend his money and time exploring Canada instead of crossing the border.
Travel agents, like Ethan Tran and Ava Park, have been noticing this change too. They said that fewer people are asking about trips to the States, likely because of the political drama.
“Most of our customers are looking for places other than the U.S. right now.”
Tran mentioned. This has made travel companies shift their focus to advertising Canadian destinations. Because of this, Canadian cities and natural landmarks are getting a lot more attention. From bigger cities such as Toronto and Vancouvers vibrant cultures to the beauty of Banff and the Maritimes, people are starting to see that there is so much to explore within our country.
The government even launched campaigns encouraging Canadians to enjoy everything the country has to offer.
It’s hard to say if this shift is here to stay, but there’s no doubt it’s changing how Canadians think about travel for the future. Businesses and travel companies are doing their best to keep up with the rising demand for domestic tourism. Whether this is just a short-term trend or a longer-lasting change, one thing’s clear: Canadians are finding new ways to appreciate what’s in their backyard.
Written by Olivia Walker.
Link to reporter pack about this post: https://youtu.be/ZJkDRjT31f4
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