Northern New York towns offer deals to lure back Canadian tourists

Businesses in northern New York are rolling out a welcome mat, but are facing overwhelming resentment from Canadians upset with Trump.

If you’ve sworn off summer trips to the U.S., a new report suggests you’re not alone.

But some businesses just across the border are sending Quebecers a message that being Canadian comes with perks if you take a trip to northern New York.

“It’s an unsettled time,” said Kristy Kennedy with the North Country Chamber of Commerce. “What can we do within our power and within our world to make everybody feel welcomed?”

With 70 per cent of its tourism coming from Canada, the chamber is rolling out a red and white welcome mat.

In Plattsburgh, on the Adirondack Coast, that means hotel rooms at par at the Best Western Plus. At Bluff Point Golf Resort, free range balls and a sleeve on the house. And at Pizza Palace, a large two-topping pie and 10 wings for $36.

Other towns like Lake Placid and Jay are also offering deals.

But a new Léger poll suggests that while a lot of Canadians are travelling this summer, few want to go to the States.

Seventy-five per cent say tariffs have influenced their plans to visit the U.S., with over half cancelling trips altogether.

And tariffs aren’t the only reason.

“The list is long from there. The political climate between the U.S. and Canada at number two. Third on the list is, half don’t feel safe in the U.S. anymore. Exchange rate factors in at number four,” said Steve Mossop, Leger360’s Western Canada Executive Vice-President.

He adds that the deals may not solve those problems.

“The anti-U.S. sentiment is overwhelming in Canada right now,” he said.

To that, Kennedy said: “We know it won’t fix everything.”

But she adds that for these towns, it’s not just about boosting business but bringing friends, family and French back to its streets - restoring that cross-border connection one small step, or one big special, at a time.