B.C. to Washington Travel? It's Giving...📉

The Deets

Alright, fam, let's get into it. Cross-border travel from B.C. to Washington state? It's low-key flopping. We're not talking a little dip; we're talking a whole PLUNGE. Passenger vehicles crossing the border in April? Down more than half compared to last year! That's fewer than 100,000 whips rolling across, compared to over 200,000 last year. March wasn't lookin' too hot either. Major L.

And guess who's feeling the heat? Businesses in Washington. Hotels in the northwest part of the state (aka the closest to B.C.) are seeing fewer bookings. Like, demand is down way more than the rest of the state. No cap, that's gotta sting.

Here's the tea: Canada is Washington's #1 source for international tourists. And those Canadian besties? They SPEND. More than domestic tourists, apparently. So, less travel from Canada means less 💸 flowing into Washington's economy, which could lead to layoffs and a whole economic vibe shift. Not a slay.

Why the drop, you ask? Well, it's a whole tangled web. There's been some political drama between the U.S. and Canada, with tariffs and whatnot. Plus, some Canadian politicians were like, "Yo, maybe stay in Canada and explore our own backyard." 😬

But hold up, not everyone's giving up. Some businesses in Washington are trying to throw a lifeline. They're like, "Come on over, Canadians! We'll even accept your Canadian dollar at par!" Basically, they're eating the exchange rate to make it easier for Canadians to visit. That's a W move, tbh.