California Governor Urges Canadians to Return Despite Trump Tensions as Travel Plummets

Faced with a sharp drop in Canadian tourism, California Governor Gavin Newsom is urging Canadians to look past political tensions with Washington and return to the Golden State’s beaches, vineyards, and sunshine. In a video posted this week, Newsom appeals directly to Canadian travelers, asking them not to let the U.S.-Canada trade war or President Donald Trump’s rhetoric get in the way of their vacation plans.

“Sure, you-know-who is trying to stir things up back in D.C., but don’t let that ruin your beach plans,” Newsom says in the video, part of a $5.2-million US tourism campaign aimed at reviving cross-border visits.

The plea comes as Canadian travel to the U.S. has dropped significantly due to a mix of rising tariffs, political hostility, border incidents, and economic uncertainty. A recent report shows Canadian visits to California fell by 12 per cent in February compared to the previous year. Nationally, border crossings from Canada into the U.S. have declined sharply, with a 42 per cent drop reported in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland alone.

California officials acknowledge the downturn. “We want to reach out and say, ‘You’re always welcome here when you’re ready to travel,’” said Caroline Beteta, president of Visit California, the state’s tourism agency.

However, Canadian officials and travelers are not easily swayed. B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon dismissed the ads as a reaction to public backlash and praised Canadians for taking a stand. “We’re not a 51st state. We’re not going to take this lightly,” he said. “I’m proud of Canadians. I’m proud of British Columbians.”

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Travel agents in Canada are reporting a near-total collapse in leisure bookings to the U.S. McKenzie McMillan, a travel consultant with the Vancouver-based Travel Group, noted that many Canadians are redirecting their vacations to Europe, Asia, and Mexico. “We’ve almost seen a complete drop-off — probably about a 90 per cent drop since February,” he said, adding that the core frustration lies with the U.S. federal government, not ordinary Americans.

While California is attempting to distance itself from national politics, the reality is that deepening tensions and perceived hostility from Washington have left Canadian travelers wary — and many say it will take more than sunny ads to win back their trust.