U.S. tourism operators ‘cautiously optimistic’ about Canadian visitors as 51st state rhetoric softens

Memorial Day is usually the unofficial start to summer travel in the U.S., but a simmering trade war is top of mind for tourist towns.

Tourism operators in Maine are approaching this summer with a bit more optimism compared to a few months ago, as the U.S. trade war with Canada lingers on.

“Back in March it was looking very grim,” says Sterling Morse, owner of the Point of View Inn in Old Orchard Beach.

At that time, Morse says almost every Canadian reservation for the upcoming season called to cancel as “51st state” musings from U.S. President Donald Trump ramped up.

“I’ve changed quite a few minds, Canadian minds, to reverse their cancellations,” says Morse. “The temperature has come down quite a bit with regards to the rhetoric and things that you guys we’re experiencing early on… the tensions that had been starting to mount and brew.”

Earlier this month, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said Trump’s 51st state idea was ‘not coming back.’

Still, Morse expects this summer will remain a challenge.

“I think it’s going to be bit depressed in terms of reservations,” he says.

During a typical summer, up to 40 per cent of Old Orchard Beach visitors travel from Canada, and particularly Quebec. Several hotels and inns have Canada and Quebec flags flying outside their establishments.

Kim Howard, executive director of the Old Orchard Beach Chamber of Commerce, says local business operators are “cautiously optimistic” about the upcoming season.

“We are ready to welcome our Canadian visitors, some that have been coming for generations,” says Howard.

The peak times for Canadians visiting Old Orchard Beach arrives in June (around Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day) and continuing through to the Labour Day long weekend. With the unofficial start to summer now here (with Canada’s Victoria Day and the U.S. Memorial Day), tourism operators are trying to get an early gauge on how the season may go.

Judy Breitmaier operates the Ocean Park Soda Fountain in Old Orchard Beach and says initial indicators for Canadian visitor numbers this season are encouraging. But she’s not celebrating yet.

“I’ve had a lot of Canadians coming in the last few weekends, [and] we’re very, very happy,” says Breitmaier. “They’re a big staple to our community. I’m hoping and praying everything just goes the way it’s supposed to go, and everyone is going to come back and have a wonderful vacation.”