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Great White North
Duh Moment: Canada falling off the map with American travellers
2006-08-30
Canada has an image problem south of the border. It's not that Americans have a bad impression of their northern neighbour — it's that they have no impression at all.

It's little wonder, then, that U.S. visits to Canada are sitting at a record low. Same-day car visits have almost halved over the past six years, while overall visits have plunged 30 per cent. Reasons for the drop are well documented — rising gasoline prices, a strong Canadian dollar and fears of increased security at the border.

The underlying factor though, say tourism experts on both sides of the border, is that Canada has simply fallen off the radar of most Americans. As other countries such as Australia are busy waging marketing blitzes, there's simply no buzz about Canada south of the border.
Posted by:Omiper Unenter9180

#23  The only way to describe it is 'Indescribably Beautiful'.

Not just Banff, try Jasper, Lake Louise the Fraser River Canyon and so many other incredible places. I canoed all 100 miles of the Bowron Lakes circuit. It was almost more fun than sex. Then there's the Canadian beer ...
Posted by: Zenster   2006-08-30 23:45  

#22  We were camping all around Southern BC for most of this summer, it was almost deserted everywhere. We met one American couple (at a resort in Fernie BC) in all that time. And when we got to the Upper Flathead river, we thought we owned the place. Magnificent country. A few miles South, Glacier National Park, Montana.
By the way, according to my GPS, the border line at the old Flathead border station is about 200 yards inside Canada.
Posted by: Grunter   2006-08-30 20:14  

#21  Jules, I suspect "tapped ass" is one of the many things they never say in front of ladies, which is why you and I don't know what it means. Clearly it wasn't meant to be polite, though. (ooooh - another chance to expand our vocabularies!)
Posted by: trailing wife   2006-08-30 18:00  

#20  John, like I said, no such thing as Utopia. Never saw a moose, though I bet they could put a big dent in your car...

ST9559-? I don't get your "tap ass" comment. I have been to Quebec and Ontario; my mother has visited British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia. I am a woman, BTW. And an American citizen (only).
Posted by: Jules in the Hinterlands   2006-08-30 17:01  

#19  Vive, Quebec libre!

I know a Cuba Libre is rum and Coca-Cola. What's a Quebec Libre? Rum and maple syrup?
Posted by: SteveS   2006-08-30 17:01  

#18  Vive, Quebec libre!
Posted by: Chuck DeGall   2006-08-30 15:12  

#17  "Smug condescending attitude towards people from the States is, however. Montreal's not that far from me but I'll spend my money elsewhere, thanks."

Yeah but they don't count. After all, they're French.
Posted by: mcsegeek1   2006-08-30 15:05  

#16  Banff is lovely. So are parts of the US Rockies and Alaska. Not a reason to avoid Banff, tho.

Smug condescending attitude towards people from the States is, however. Montreal's not that far from me but I'll spend my money elsewhere, thanks.
Posted by: lotp   2006-08-30 14:48  

#15  Personal experience has been that trying to get back into the states has been the big hang up: the Canadian Customs folks are pretty cool, but the US guys are not. Like normal people try to smuggle racing lawn mowers INTO the States.....
Posted by: USN, ret.   2006-08-30 14:43  

#14  I suspect the big problem is the exchange rate. It used to be that Canada was a bargain for American tourists: Near US standard of living at much cheaper prices. Now prices (in American $) are at least 1/3 higher. That really puts a crimp in vacation plans!

Al
Posted by: Frozen Al   2006-08-30 14:27  

#13  Jules is lying.

He doesnt talk about blackfies, mosquitos as big as SUVs. Government run liquor stores. And then there's the moose. Tell us about the mooses, Jules.
Posted by: john   2006-08-30 14:03  

#12  Something tells me, Jules, you never tapped that ass, you being Canadian and all...
Posted by: Sneagum Theremp9559   2006-08-30 13:04  

#11  I would still love to visit western Canada. Just never have the time.
Posted by: DarthVader   2006-08-30 12:36  

#10  Nothing about the wearying anti-Americanism of the Cretan administration that has been running Canada. After a couple of years of Harper, things will probably turn around.

My thoughts exactly.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2006-08-30 12:30  

#9  The Vaunted multi-culturalism.
Posted by: anonymous2u   2006-08-30 11:42  

#8  Nova Scotia and Quebec are mighty fine, too. If you like winter sports, try Charlevoix and Estrie (regions).

I think one legitimate reason for Canadians to worry, though, is the Islamification of major cities. That is a big turn off for Americans tourists. What the heck is happening to Toronto?
Posted by: Jules in the Hinterlands   2006-08-30 10:43  

#7  Nothing about the wearying anti-Americanism of the Cretan administration that has been running Canada. After a couple of years of Harper, things will probably turn around.

The Maritimes are also a delight to visit, especially Fortress Louisbourg. And they are very happy to see Americans as tourism is the only business around. A good bookend to Louisbourg is King's Landing in New Brunswick. If you don't understand why English is the predominant language in North America after that, you never will.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-08-30 10:34  

#6  Swamp Blondie...:)
To each their own-whatever floats your boat. My best friend loves sweltering in the heat and thinks I'm crazy, but I think she is crazy. Yesterday I said, "the weather is finally getting nice", while she is preparing for an onslaught of SAD as fall nears. I have the reverse of SAD; I am always cheerier in cooler weather.

No place is Utopia-people should seek out what they like. For me, shoveling is no big deal; driving on ice is the worst of it.

mcgeseek1-Lots of room left-everyone else is headed for the crowded beaches.
Posted by: Jules in the Hinterlands   2006-08-30 10:27  

#5  Well, I'll just keep voting the red side of the ticket in November in the hopes that more Americans will choose to visit [and stay] in Canada. My part for the program.
Posted by: Sleting Ebbager4513   2006-08-30 09:51  

#4  Jules is right. I went to Banff a few summers ago. The only way to describe it is 'Indescribably Beautiful'. Enjoy, Jules.....you swine.
Posted by: mcsegeek1   2006-08-30 09:26  

#3  Â“We're really fighting in a global warming globally competitive marketplace, in the fastest-growing industry in the world......and the resurgence of tourism in and around Crawford Texas.
Posted by: Besoeker   2006-08-30 08:41  

#2  Hey Jules, at least I don't have to shovel sunshine! :P
Posted by: Swamp Blondie   2006-08-30 08:41  

#1  Less for you, more for me!

Let American travelers pickle in the heat of the south, flee Killer Bees and bugs large enough to make a sandwich with, sweat, stink and parade in their tropical "paradises", I'll enjoy the clean air, beautiful scenery, vast unspolied space, and peace and quiet up north.
Posted by: Jules in the Hinterlands   2006-08-30 08:35  

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