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Vermont tourism leaders warn Canadian visitation drop, tariffs and federal rhetoric threaten businesses
Summary
Tourism industry witnesses told a joint House and Senate hearing April 10 that falling Canadian travel, possible tariffs and hostile federal rhetoric are already cutting bookings and could put federal grant-funded projects and seasonal businesses at risk.
State tourism leaders, regional business owners and Quebec officials told a joint hearing of the Vermont House Commerce & Economic Development Committee and the Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Committee on April 10 that a recent national political climate and possible tariffs are depressing Canadian visitation and threatening local businesses.
“Tourism is a huge economic engine for Vermont, employing over 30,000 Vermonters all over the state and bringing in $4,000,000 in visitor spending in 2023,” said Heather Pelham, Commissioner of the Department of Enforcement and Marketing for the state of Vermont. Pelham told lawmakers Canada accounts for about 5% of statewide visitation and roughly 750,000 visits that generate about $150,000,000 in spending annually, but she warned the effect is…
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