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U.S. NEWS Monday 16 July 2018

C'est la vie: Canadians still visiting US despite trade flap

By DAVID SHARP, Associ- of Flight Centre Canada, a
ated Press travel agency with 150 lo-
OLD ORCHARD BEACH, cations across Canada.
Maine (AP) — The United "All of that being said, we've
States and Canada are en- not seen a trade war like
gaged in a trade dispute, this, so that may change,"
angering Canadians, but it she said, "but as of now, the
doesn't seem to be having U.S. remains a very popular
an impact on tourism. Not destination."
yet, anyway. Florida accounts for the
In Old Orchard Beach, pop- largest number of visitors
ular with Quebecers, inn- from the north, typically
keepers report that Cana- snowbirds in the winter. New
dian tourism remains strong England is also a popular
despite the harsh words last destination, and beaches
month when Prime Minister like Old Orchard Beach In this Tuesday, June 26, 2018 photo, a family watches the moon
rise over the Atlantic Ocean near The Pier in Old Orchard, Beach,
Justin Trudeau vowed that and Hampton Beach, New Maine. Old Orchard Beach has long been a popular summer
Canada "won't be pushed Hampshire, are an easy destination for French-speaking Canadians from Quebec.
around" and President drive from Canada's Atlan- Associated Press.
Donald Trump called the tic provinces.
prime minister "weak" and In Old Orchard, Canadian back,'" she said. get along just fine.
"dishonest." flags are flown and many Vacationer Stella Bigras, "We are friends. We are
Several weeks later, Can- desk workers speak French. of Laval, Quebec, said the neighbors," she said.
ada imposed billions of Fries are served up Cana- trade flap and war of words "I hope we're going to stay
dollars in retaliatory tariffs dian-style, topped with are between two leaders. friends, and Trump and
in response to the Trump vinegar, or with gravy and Regular folks, she said, still Trudeau will calm down.q
administration's duties on cheese.
Canadian steel and alumi- For now, the value of the
num. Canadian dollar is having
Mostepha Azizi, a vacation- a bigger impact than the
er from Montreal, said he's flap between the leaders.
confident the war of words The loonie is currently worth
will end and that "reason only 76 cents in the U.S.
will prevail" between the Claire Beaulieu, an owner
neighbors. of the Motel Kebek 2, said
"For me, it's just a question Canadians will keep com-
of time," he said. "This thing ing because of the 7-mile
will settle down. Trudeau stretch of sandy beach
and Trump have to find a with plenty of rooms, food
solution to the problem." and a beachside amuse-
Canada accounts for the ment park. Canadians ac-
largest number of interna- count for 95 percent of her
tional visitors to the U.S., with bookings, she said.
more than 20 million visitors For tourism, visitors are more
pumping nearly $20 billion interested in amenities than
into the U.S. economy, ac- politics, even though many
cording to the U.S. Depart- are baffled by the U.S. pres-
ment of Commerce. ident's actions, she said.
The number of Canadians Fred Kennedy, owner of
heading south has grown Aoulette Beach Resort,
this year, and the flap be- said his bookings are strong
tween Trump and Trudeau despite the relatively weak
after last month's G7 sum- Canadian dollar, and he
mit in Quebec didn't predicts relations between
change that. the countries will improve.
Border crossing data indi- "I think it's going to blow
cates the number of Ca- over," he said. "By this time
nadian motorists returning next year, things will be
from the U.S. in June grew patched up."
12.7 percent from last year, Down the beach, at Ke-
a healthy increase, ac- bek 3, owner Suzanne
cording to a license plate- Beaulieu said her bookings
scanning system used by were strong, too, but she
the Canadian government. acknowledged that could
A so-called "Trump Slump" change next year if U.S.-
never materialized after Canadian relations remain
Trump's election, and travel frosty.
to the U.S. is growing de- At least one customer ad-
spite anecdotal evidence vised her she'll rethink her
that some Canadians are plans next summer.
choosing to travel else- "She said, 'As long as Trump
where, said Allison Wallace, is in office, I don't think I'll be