NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y., and NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario (NewsNation) — International tourism has been declining at Niagara Falls State Park in New York since the beginning of the year, and some at the northern border are pointing to President Donald Trump’s tariffs and immigration policies as key reasons.
Niagara Falls is a popular tourist destination in both New York and in Ontario, Canada. A 1,450-foot bridge and a mountainous cascading waterfall connect the two sister cities. Usually lively by summertime, the state park on the U.S. side was quieter than expected on a recent day in June.
Canadian shoppers frequently cross the border to buy cheaper products, especially groceries, but they’ve slowed their spending. Some Canadians aren’t happy with the United States, and the data has started to reflect that.
Tourist traffic has fallen at Niagara Falls State Park in New York, with a 4.7% decline in international spending, which the park’s marketing agency considers “significant.”
“(Canadians) decided not to travel, so it’s a snowball effect,” John Percy, CEO and president of Destination Niagara USA, the park’s official marketing agency, told NewsNation. “When you speak of tariffs or other items, that is going to have an impact from the patriotism of certain countries, and Canada being one that is so close.”
Hotel occupancy and visitation numbers also signal a decline, he said, calling the state of tourism “concerning.” Car wait times at the port of entry have also been shorter.
The number of Canadians taking road trips into the U.S. dropped by 38% last month compared to May 2024, according to new data from Statistics Canada, the country’s central statistical office. Last month marked the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year declines. Also, fewer Canadians are flying in.
In recent years, Canadian tourists have made up roughly one-quarter of all foreign travelers who come to the U.S., according to the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office. They spent roughly $20.5 billion in the U.S. last year.
Mayor Jim Diodati of Niagara Falls, Ontario, told NewsNation he has heard from some locals who are refusing to spend their money in the U.S. to protest Trump’s tariffs. He also said Trump’s immigration crackdown has contributed to a decrease in foot traffic.
“A lot of Canadians are hanging on to their money right now, so it’s definitely affected border traffic, and people are just a little concerned. ‘Am I going to be apprehended at the border? Are they going to be a little more strict with me?’” Diodati said. “So yeah, it’s caused a lot of consternation around border crossings.”
An employee at WildPlay Niagara Falls Zipline to the Falls, who could not give her name while on the job, said she made the personal decision to stop grocery shopping in the U.S., specifically because she said she doesn’t support the American president.
Comments Trump has made about making Canada the 51st U.S. state have also upset our northern neighbors.
“What I’d like to see: Canada become our 51st state,” Trump said in February, a sentiment he has reiterated multiple times.
“Doesn’t shock us anymore,” Diodati said. “You keep saying it. I’m not listening to you anymore. You know, la la la la la la. So we’re just not listening anymore.”
Some international tourists from other countries told NewsNation that Trump’s policies and comments did not impact their decisions to visit the U.S. side of Niagara Falls.
Ludovic Schindler, visiting from France, said he came “because I wanted to see it again. I went to Niagara Falls 25 years ago.”
Another visitor, Salvatore Russo, said in Spanish, “Because I like America.”
For Araff Mohamed, from India: “USA is always on the bucket list.”
“You’re going to get a mix of countries that don’t care, and you’re going to get the countries that do care and are making a large statement or a louder statement towards the United States,” Percy said.
His agency has beefed up its digital marketing strategy in response to declining tourism, and he said he’s confident tourism will rebound.
“Travel is resilient,” Percy said. “Even if there is a downward trend, people still want to travel. … We are on that bucket list.”
The Trump administration did not return a request for comment.
