US ski towns hope to turn around holiday season after decline in Canadian tourist numbers

American ski towns facing a sharp decline in Canadian tourism are still hoping they can convince their northern neighbors this holiday season.

Ultimately, the decision to travel south may depend on snowfall rather than politics. Although it’s still early in the season, there are some signs that Canadians’ resolve to spend their dollars close to home is beginning to weaken.

On a recent December morning, Montana’s Whitefish Mountain Resort — about an hour south of the southeast BC border — was quiet after a rainy start to the week.

Still, public relations manager Chad Sokol was optimistic that numbers would increase by Christmas, which is historically one of the resort’s busiest times of the year.

“It’s all hands on deck,” Sokol said. “We’ve seen a decline in Canadian visitation to the city of Whitefish over the past year… so we’re interested to see where things go from here.”

Canadian license plates are a common sight in Flathead County, including the ski towns of Whitefish and nearby Kalispell.

Canadians go skiing in the winter, boating in the summer, and shopping or sightseeing at all times of the year. replace their old knees, said Dianne Medler, executive director of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce.

But from January to September, border crossings declined and Canadian credit card spending in the region dropped 39 per cent, Medler said.

“It’s disappointing and sad,” Medler said, though she said she understands why many Canadians have decided not to travel.

Canada’s trip to America has been Below Ever since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, a trade war broke out and started spitting about Canada becoming 51st state,

Beyond political sentiment, there are other factors working against the region as a tourism hotspot. The weak Canadian dollar has made travel south expensive, making the December ski season in Whitefish notable Rain, No ice.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Rockies have been filled with early-season powder and business is booming.

SkiBig3, which sells tickets and vacation packages for resorts in Banff and Lake Louise, said it has had 11 powder days since November and is seeing a huge increase in ticket sales from both local and international visitors.

Canadian sales have increased by 10 per cent, US sales have increased by nine per cent, while visitor sales in the UK and Australia have increased by 20 and 25 per cent respectively.

“It’s amazing to see,” said Rachel Wilson, marketing director of SkiBig3.

Celebrating Canadians

The US-based National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) expects travel to Canada to slow this year, with larger destination resorts and areas along the border likely to be most affected.

“As an industry we’re certainly hoping that they will choose to visit those resorts as much as possible,” said NSAA President Mike Reitzell.

In downtown Kalispell, Bias Brewing co-owner Gabe Merriman is offering buy-one-get-one free beer in a small effort to encourage Canadians to visit and stay a while.

“If you look at Montanans and Albertans, we have a lot more similarities than differences,” Merriman said.

“I feel like these are my neighbors.”

Other businesses in Kalispell are offering discounted ice cream cones, hotel stays and museum tours in an effort to show goodwill toward Canadian visitors. organized By Chamber of Commerce.

Joe Jiminez, who runs a local hotel, has cut booking fees for Canadians by 20 per cent in an effort to boost his occupancy numbers, which are down 25 per cent so far this year compared to 2024.

“This is a great start,” said Jiminez, owner of Switchback Suites. “I think we have a (Canadian) checking in on Friday.”

Skier Whitney Bradbury, who lives about three hours south of Whitefish, said she hopes to see Canadians on American slopes again this year.

“We always think Canadians are amazing,” he said. “Very friendly and absolutely peaceful and cordial.”

Softening of stance?

There are signs that Canadians’ determination to remain north of the border may be beginning to wear off. Tourism research firm Longwoods International recently issued a release report Suggesting that while many people are still planning to stay away from the US for political reasons, feelings of nostalgia are beginning to grow.

“(The trend) is softening, but we are not out of the woods yet,” said Amir Elon, president of Longwoods.

In recent months, Alberta license plates have started appearing again around downtown Kalispell, said Medler with the local chamber. However, so far, he said the evidence is anecdotal and not reflected in official spending figures.

Ultimately, whether Canadians spend their vacations (and their dollars) in Montana’s ski towns may depend on the weather.

For example, Jay Peak Resort in Vermont, near the border with Quebec, will have no problem attracting visitors this year due to the early season. pile of snowWith the NSAA, Ritzel said.

“It’s all about the snow,” Reitzell said. “(If a resort has) great snow conditions, people will go there.”