By Michael Baginski/ A team of close to two dozen tourism professionals from Louisiana, led by Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, are visiting Canada this week with a simple message: “Come when you’re ready, we’re here with open arms!”
Starting at a trade event at the suitably New Orleans-founded Ruth’s Chris steakhouse in Toronto, the group continued on to Montreal and Quebec City, with both activations for consumers (such as serving tabasco-flavoured ice cream at Union Station) and meetings with those who send or take them there, like Air Canada.
“We just came up here to show our relationship and friendship with the Canadian people,” Nungesser told Travel Industry Today, while noting that he previously worked in Edmonton in his pre-political career – a sojourn where he developed a deep love for the country, which he still visits, including planning an upcoming family vacation (in the Rockies).
“I feel a connection with the Canadian people, and also because in Louisiana we treat strangers like family; we invite strangers to our backyard to eat crawfish – and you leave with a friend for life. So, I think above all the politics, the 51st state, the tariffs, we are friends in Louisiana with Canada and the Canadian people and so we’re just here to rekindle those friendships.”
Nungesser added, “We’re not here to make a hard sell to say come to Louisiana, we just want Canadians to know we’re thinking about ‘em, we care about ‘em, and they are our friends.”
And the lieutenant governor is sure the feeling is mutual.
“You look at the numbers, and Canadian travel is way down in America, but it’s only down about 15% in Louisiana and I think that bodes well for our relationship. That although they may not want to come to America because of comments by the president and tariffs, they could still consider us friends and family in Louisiana, because many of the other cities are down a great deal more.”
Nungasser notes that the state and its partners are frequent visitors to Canada to participate in consumer events, such as travel and food and wine shows.
Further, he says, “Something else I do on a regular basis, and encourage all of my team to do, is we ‘sell’ Canada in Louisiana. And I do that for two reasons: I do that because I want (to encourage) our Louisianans to experience Canada and its beautiful people, and I think whenever they come up here, they come back with a friend for life… It helps us to send people back and forth.
“I think there’s an openness and bond people between the people that I’ve never seen anywhere else, and I’ve been to every country we sell tourism in, and there’s never been a connection anywhere like we have in Canada.”
Nungasser nevertheless acknowledges that he’s been told by some Canadian travel companies that marketing the state (and U.S. in general) has been paused because its bad optics, though he says, “I was so proud that the plane coming up here was sold out,” adding, “We need to support Canada as much as they support us!”
As for developments in the state, Nungasser highlights the Mardi Gras Express – officially known as Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service – which began service Aug. 19 connecting New Orleans, Louisiana, with Mobile, Alabama, twice daily, and offering scenic coastal stops such as Gulfport and Biloxi. Hopes are that route will soon extend to Florida, giving people the chance to combine three states, thus providing incentive to visit Louisiana and the southern Gulf Coast.
And for the trade, IPW, the U.S.’s largest annual trade show, is bound for New Orleans again in 2027, noted Nungasser.
“The last one we did (in 2016), I think, no one could top,” enthused Doug Bourgeos, the state’s assistant secretary of tourism. “I think we worked hard, and everyone had a great time.”
And those les bon temps are soon to rouler again, the men assure.
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