With many Canadians still boycotting U.S. travel, leaders from California’s tourism industry are in Vancouver hoping to lure locals back to sunshine and fun. There’s been a 19 per cent drop in Canadians heading to California since the onset of trade tensions and steady jibes from U.S. President Donald Trump about Canada becoming the 51st State. “For literally 58 years, Canada’s been our No. 1 international destination,” Visit Anaheim president and chief executive Mike Waterman told CTV News on Thursday. “We’re huge fans of Canadians coming in and enjoying Disneyland and all the things Anaheim has to offer. And for the first time ever, Mexico kind of usurped Canada as our No. 1 international market.” Waterman is among a group of 16 California tourism leaders in Vancouver as part of a public relations blitz aimed at making the case that Canadians should come back to the Sunshine State. “For my area in particular, in the Bay Area, it’s about a 30 per cent decline,” Visit Oakland president and chief executive Peter Gamez told CTV News of the drop in Canadian visitors. “It’s been difficult.” At the event, members of the tourism industry were quick to stress Californians share similar values to Canadians. “We understand and respect, you know, those folks who out of principle just don’t want to come,” Waterman said. “I think California and Governor (Gavin) Newsom have done a really good job of trying to articulate that we’re 3,000 miles away from D.C. and we act and react differently than our (federal) government at this point, and we’re a very welcoming state.” The state’s tourism industry is also willing to slash prices to entice Canadians to return. Visit California previously partnered with Expedia to offer Canadians discounts of up to 25 per cent off on select hotels, attractions and activities—and at Thursday’s event in Downtown Vancouver, Visit California CEO Caroline Beteta suggested a renewal of that campaign is in the works.
