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Officials warn potential Canada travel shifts could affect international visitor counts
Summary
Board members asked whether recent Canadian travel messaging would reduce visits; presenters said international visitors are a small share of Rhode Island's total (about 0.6%) but noted Canada is an important source market and that staff are monitoring and ready to pivot.
During the Q&A members asked about the potential effect of Canadian government messaging on travel. The presenter cited industry research, saying, "According to US Bridal Association, Canada alone is the number 1 source of international visits to The United States," and noted international visitors represented roughly 0.6% of Rhode Island visitors in 2024 (about 180,000 visitors).
Presenters warned such shifts could have measurable national and state impacts and said they were tracking developments: "If there was a 10% reduction or 2,000,000,000 people stop coming here, that's gonna have a...dollar impact on The United States," the presenter said (verbal figure in the transcript). Board members were told the state's market is primarily domestic (between New York and Boston), and presenters said they would lean into domestic marketing and monitor international trends.
Members asked for scenario planning and monitoring; staff said they will continue to work with Brand USA and other partners and that an April conference bringing international operators to Rhode Island remains scheduled.
