ACTA says that travel to the US is now at risk thanks to the imposition/ threat of US tariffs on Canadian goods by Donald Trump’s administration. Canadians are also turned off by Trump’s assertion that Canada should be the US’s 51st state.
“We are already seeing signs that demand for US destinations by Canadians is decreasing,” the association stated this week, adding “The tariffs will have significant economic consequences, making goods and services more expensive on both sides of the border. Every facet of the Canadian and US economies will feel the impact – from manufacturing and agriculture to retail and tourism. In particular, the Canadian dollar will fall even more against the US currency, further weakening Canadians’ buying power and appetite for travel.”
Further, the association warned, “As Canadian companies face higher costs, job losses will inevitably follow, reducing disposable income for millions of households. If these tariffs are not short-lived the direct impact on Canadians’ purchasing power will significantly harm travel advisors as their clients delay or cancel travel plans due to financial constraints.
“The US is a top destination choice for Canadians and Canada is a top destination for American travellers – travel between our countries contributes billions to both economies.”
ACTA’s response & advocacy
ACTA says it has been joining weekly meetings with the federal government over the past month and will “continue vigorously advocating for travel agencies, travel advisors, and independent travel advisors with all levels of government.”
The association says it is currently assessing the full impact of these tariffs as the situation unfolds and will be communicating with members on a timely basis through our various communication channels – member advisories, media releases, ACTA social channels and live information sessions.
And should the tariffs remain in place, ACTA will conduct monthly townhall updates, or more frequently as needed, to keep travel agencies, travel advisors and independent travel advisors informed and engaged in advocacy efforts.
“ACTA is closely monitoring this situation and is in active dialogue with key industry stakeholders and governments on both sides of the border. We will strongly advocate for our members to be protected from the economic fallout from the tariffs and the damage it will do to our industry.
What you can do
Meanwhile, ACTA is urging agents to make their opposition to the tariffs known:
- If you normally book travel to the United States, write directly to state senators about how much business you sell to their state, how these tariffs are risking this valuable economic activity and ask them to advocate to have these tariffs removed. Senator contact information is available here: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
- Voice your opposition to these tariffs on social media, clearly articulating how they will impact your business and your clients. Refrain from derogatory comments, just state the facts and reiterate that Americans have been our allies, friends and neighbours for decades.
- Share concrete examples with ACTA about how the tariffs are affecting your bookings and business operations via acampbell@acta.ca.
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