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Utah & South Dakota Join The Tourism Decline Club
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Okay, so I think we're really starting
to see the summer realization that the
US tourism industry is in serious
trouble today. Got three reports lined
up. I actually have more, but I can't
fit them all into one video. Two are
from places I haven't covered before,
and the other is from our familiar old
orchard beach. For today's backdrop, we
have a photo from Ottawa sent by Emma
Lynn's father. It's a solid shot, and I
think it really captures the storm
that's about to hit the US tourism, more
specifically, snowbird season. Thank you
for sending this in. Before we get
started, just a quick note. A few videos
ago, I mentioned Todd Mafin's stickers.
He has since taken them offline and he
explains why in a video on his channel,
but the cards are still available
through the link if you want to download
them. So, I still suggest to check out
Todd's link. All right, let's dive into
today's reports.
The numbers show a decline in visitation
at Utah's biggest tourist attractions
and the income that goes with them. I'm
Fox 13 investigative reporter Nate Carile.
Carile.
Well, we were planning a trip to Utah
and California and probably into Arizona
and our plan was to visit um national parks.
parks.
But British Columbia resident Karen
Lavender cancelled that trip back in the spring.
spring.
Most Canadians are not interested in
coming to the States right now because
of the threat to our sovereignty.
Now Karen, like many of us, has stopped
traveling to the US and she's probably
also boycotting US products as well. But
the reason why I wanted to comment on
this, she said many of us, not all of
us. And that's something I've mentioned
in my past videos as well. There's still
plenty of Canadians who go to the US.
Some go for work, some go for family,
and some just aren't as passionate about
Canadian sovereignty as we are. And you
know what? That's their choice. Everyone
has a free will to do what they want,
and we shouldn't hold it against them. I
bring this up because I've seen many
comments in my videos saying, "Those
Canadians are traitors." I don't see it
that way. Sure, we'd love to have
everyone on board with a boycott, but if
your neighbor, your coworker, or someone
you know still goes south, that's their
decision, and we should respect it. The
last thing I want is hate in the
comments between Canadians. We can't
control what others do. What we can do
is focus on our own actions because
there's enough of us making a difference
already. If it wasn't making a
difference, my channel wouldn't exist.
Lavender isn't the only Canadian staying
north of their border. In July, Canada's
National Statistics Agency observed a
37% drop in Canadians returning from the
US by car, the seventh consecutive month
of year-over-year decline. Canadian air
travel of the United States dropped,
too. Canadians have long been the
biggest foreign visitors for Utah's 12
billion tourism industry, but the
decline appears to be broader than one
country. Bryce, Canyon Lands, Capitol
Reef, and Zion National Parks saw
visitation dips in June and July. Also,
in those months, the state of Utah
collected less resort tax than it did a
year ago.
We do see a lot of tourism here in Park
City, and it it does seem like it is a
little down. Mitch,
Mitch,
only a little down. Yeah, I get the
feeling this guy isn't really telling it
how it really is. It's kind of like when
you get a terrible haircut and you ask
someone how bad it looks and someone
says, "H, it's only a little bit bad."
I'm still working on my analogies. Give
me some time.
Key is president of the Park City Artist Association.
Association.
These are all done in molds because
they're thicker.
Sunday, he was selling his own artisan
glass at the Park Silly Market as locals
and some out oftowners filled the streets.
streets.
The amount of shipping I do um is a
little off from from years previous.
Bedkkey says artist merchants like him
need a high rate of growth year after year
year
just to just to keep buying more raw materials.
materials.
I asked Lavender if she would return to
the United States while Donald Trump is president
president
while he's president. No, not not a chance.
chance.
The research corporation Travel
Economics reports visitation to the
United States from one country has
increased. It's Mexico. possibly because
the US dollar is weaker against the peso
than it was a year ago.
Now, I'm not sure if you caught this,
but that merchant looked like he was
starting to talk about his materials.
And I'm guessing those are being hit by
the wonderful tariffs. But of course,
the report conveniently cuts that part
out. That piece I actually wanted to
hear how the tariffs are actually
affecting the US citizens and how it's
affecting his materials. Unfortunately,
we're not going to be able to hear it.
Now, as for Karen, I think most of us
watching agree with her sentiment.
There's no chance for us to go back if
he's president. But for some of us, it
goes beyond that. I didn't even realize
how many Canadians go to Utah. I've
never been, and it's not a destination
I'd ever pick. But we now can add Utah
to the growing list of states that are
feeling the pinch. Now, this next report
comes out of South Dakota, another state
I have never covered before.
Labor Day marked the traditional end to
this summer tourism season, and local
leaders are calling this summer's
visitor numbers disappointing. According
to experienced Sou Falls, June visitor
numbers were down by more than 9% from
the same time last year, down 6% in July
and then trending downward again in
August. In tonight's Eye on Kelland,
Perry Groen looks into what's behind the
decline and what it means for tourism in
the months ahead. This is Christy Erin's
family's first visit to Sou Falls and
the city's sightseeing crown jewel,
Falls Park.
I love it here. It's so pretty. I mean,
the falls and everything are pretty. The
downtown area is gorgeous. There's a lot
of new restaurants and everything that
we've been seeing as well. So, we're
excited to try some of those restaurants out.
out.
Arens is from Minnesota and was
surprised that more people weren't
visiting the park on a sunny late summer day.
day.
This really shouldn't be a surprise at
all. Many of us already know why and
we're not even living in your country.
So, let me break this down for you,
Christie. I'll start with your country's
own internal problems. Number one, your
own citizens are struggling with
affordability. Things are getting out of
reach. Taking a vacation isn't a
necessity anymore. It's a luxury. And
when your pasta sauce costs 30 to 40%
more than it did before the tariffs,
people just aren't going to plan trips
to the park. They're just trying to get
groceries. The tariffs are great, right?
Number two, your president has basically
isolated your country from the rest of
the world, not just Canadians. A huge
number of us refuse to step foot in your
country, and we're not spending on your
businesses, your hotels, or your events.
So, if you're walking around the park
and you don't hear Canadians saying
aboot or pronouncing roof the way that
you do, this is the reason why.
I mean, I since I hadn't been here
before, I thought maybe it was cuz it
was a weekday morning compared to a weekend.
weekend.
But fewer visitors have been the norm
this summer at Falls Park, whether on a
weekday or weekend.
You know, it's beautiful here. We got it
all going on, but people just are not traveling.
traveling.
Experience Sou Falls conducts daily
headcounts at Falls Park to help gauge
the number of visitors to Sou Falls and
the numbers this year are down over last
year. Experience Sou Falls blames
people's reluctance to travel on
uncertainty over the economy.
There are too many other things higher
up on the list this summer that they're
looking at going, "Nope, nope, nope,
nope. Guess we're not going."
But Sou Falls hasn't been alone in
attracting fewer out of town visitors.
We know across the state of South Dakota
and even in the region and nationally,
it's the trend is down.
I think there are just people even with
food prices and things, I think it makes
it hard for them to really stretch and
kind of do some of the more fun things
they might want to do.
Sou Falls has also seen a drop in
international travelers, including
Canadians, upset about the ongoing trade
war with the US and backlash over
President Trump's claims of making
Canada our 51st state. I'll give credit
where it's due. At least this news
station actually mentions something
beyond the tariffs as a reason. Most of
them never do. Now, the woman in the
pink shirt brought up part of the issue,
and she's right on that part, but it's
only half the story. That lines up with
everything I explained earlier in point
number one, but pay attention to what
she says a little later, because that's
where she touches on point number two,
and it'll definitely make you raise an eyebrow.
eyebrow.
A lot of them are very angry. They've
talked to us. They've told us. And so,
you know, what do you say? You know,
we're sorry. Um, please come see us
anyway. We like you.
No, I get it. There's not much this
woman can do. Her job is to promote her
city and tourism. But here's my problem
with this. Canadians are past the
boiling point, and a lot of us don't
want to hear, "Come see us anyways."
Because what that really says is despite
how Canadians are being treated by their
government, we should just ignore it and
still go visit and spend money. And the
more we hear comments like this, the
more it pushes us away from even
considering a trip down south. For many
of us, it's about optics now. And I see
it in the comments on every video I
make. Some of you are even more fired up
than I am. Actually, quite a bit of you
are. So, I want to hear from you. What
do you think when you hear these kind of
statements from tourist officials? Drop
your thoughts in the comments below. The
Sou Falls economy will feel the effects
if the downward trend in visitors continues.
continues.
We generally run 300 400 million a year
in economic impact. I I don't think
we're going to come near that. Um I
would say we're going to probably land
maybe 9 or 10% down.
The transition to the fall tourism
season is underway, a time of year when
more seniors travel into the city. But
that's no guarantee that those seniors
will help tourism numbers recover.
We have heard um they're really worried
about their Medicare, Medicaid. Um you
know, what's going to happen? Do I am I
going to have enough money?
The national economic headwinds haven't
prevented the Arens family from spending
time on the road
this summer, especially with uh my son's
baseball. We've gone a lot throughout
July and now we're just kind of winding
down for the end of summer. With summer
giving way to fall, experience Sou Falls
says they will keep promoting Sou Falls
as a travel destination, hoping to
welcome more people to the city.
And when those people feel like, okay, I
got to get out of here. I got to have a
trip. I got to have a vacation. Then
they'll hopefully say, let's go to Sou
Falls, South Dakota. That's what we work for.
for.
With Eye on Kelland, I'm Perry Groten.
Schmidt says that there have been a
couple of bright spots during tourism
season. Gas prices have remained low,
while people visiting the new Jacobson
Plaza have included a stop at nearby
Falls Park.
Are you noticing the pattern that I
mentioned a few videos back? These
reports will always end with some kind
of positive spin. Like, you know, at
least the gas prices haven't moved. Yay.
But to that tourist official, I don't
think you'll be hearing any Canadians
say, "Let's go to South Dakota anytime
soon." So, you might want to start
making other plans to hit your revenue
targets. Now, this next report comes out
of our favorite state, Maine. And of
course, Old Orchard Beach. I'm sure you
already know how this was going to go.
Just as a reminder, on my last report on
Old Orchard Beach, businesses were
saying they had no idea why the revenue
has dropped. There's new data suggesting
some Canadians may be responding to
President Trump's tariffs by ditching
trips to the US. According to US Customs
and Border Protection, Maine saw a 28%
decline in Canadian visitors between
February and June. Fox's Kaylee Skyler
joins us live from Old Orchard Beach in
Maine. And uh Kaylee, what are locals
telling you there?
Hi Christine. So I'm told that Canadians
have been vacationing here for decades.
In fact, the main state Chamber of
Commerce says they usually make up
around 30 to 40% of revenue for local
businesses. But now some say they're
taking a hit, reporting up to a 30% loss
in sales over the summer.
Canadians are hurt.
We're going to choose to not go on
vacation in Florida or Old Orchard Beach.
Beach.
That was back in March when then
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
called President Trump's tariffs dumb.
Now, 6 months later, it seems like some
Canadians agreed and decided to stay
away from the US this spring and summer.
Now, just to be clear for our
international viewers or for anyone else
who might not know, yes, our former
prime minister may have said that at the
time, but this boycott, it's a
grassroots movement led by Canadian
citizens themselves. We were not
mandated by the government to boycott.
Millions of Canadians chose to do this
on their own. And that's why I believe,
as an example, even if alcohol suddenly
went back on the shelves, there would be
little to no change in consumer
behavior. And this also applies to
tourism as well. Tourism I'd say is
still down mostly from Quebec and
definitely the spring was way down
April, May, June, but also we had bad
weather. Um, but still even when the
weather's been good, July, August, you
go by the hotels, there's still vacancy.
Blake Laughlin owns Corner Surf Company
in Old Orchard Beach.
Like I speak limited French to do a surf
lesson. Go Dwat uh Ali Ali ubalai. like
we, you know, we cuz we have all
Canadians and now we have none.
Now, this guy's been interviewed before
and Yashi tells the truth. He did back
then and he does now and he lays out the
facts. I respect him for that, for being
honest about what's really happening.
Not like the other businesses that keep
blaming the exchange rate, tariffs, or
even the weather. Yeah, I know he did
mention the weather, but he also said on
the good days, it's still dead. So,
kudos to this business owner for
actually stating the truth. Just a few
weeks ago, I was in Canada reporting on
the impacts of US tariffs and one
Canadian official brought up how he
ditched his annual trip to Maine
for two weeks for each like most of the
last 10 years. I mean, co aside, we're
going to Italy. I can't be seen in
Maine. Patrick Woodcock, president and
CEO of the Maine State Chamber of
Commerce, sent me a statement on the
impact, saying in part, quote, "This
drop has had a tangible impact on local
businesses from Lubebeck to Old Orchard
Beach, where some report sales down 15%
to 30%." While external geopolitical factors,
factors,
no, it's not external geopolitical
factors. It's an internal problem caused
by your president. Don't try to push the
blame outside your borders when the root
cause of the issue is right inside your
own country. Sorry, but your messaging
to your viewers is wrong.
May be influencing this trend. Our focus
remains on supporting main businesses
and reinforcing the crossber
relationships that have long fueled
Well, President Trump continues to say
that Canada needs to pay their part, but
recently Canadian Prime Minister Mark
Carney removed retalatory tariffs on
most American products. And those here
are hoping that's a step in the right
direction to toning down the trade
tensions between the US and Canada.
Yeah, not likely. And it's not even
about the trade tension. So, what's my
takeaway from these reports today? The
postsummer season is here and now the
news outlets are finally starting to
admit the drastic drop compared to last
year. I called this back in early summer
and it's happening now. But here's the
crucial part. The biggest tourist season
has already come and gone. Those summer
trips that were booked before Trump took
office, the non-refundable ones, yeah,
those are probably done now. So, if the
summer numbers already look bad, just
wait for the fall and winter to hit.
Before I wrap this up, I want to address
something that I saw in the comments
that my videos are starting to get
repetitive, that we already know this.
It's happening everywhere. Well, here's
my thing. My goal is to keep this in
view as a constant reminder that our
boycott is actually working. Because
once something slips out of sight and
out of mind, people stop talking about
it and you stop seeing the real effects
of our efforts. So if you think it's
repetitive and decide to unsubscribe, no
offense taken here, but for the rest of
you who know why we keep this message
alive, thank you. If you found this
video helpful, hit the like and
subscribe. It help pushes this message
out to more people. And share it with
your friends as well. It really does
make a difference. And if you're still
here, check out the other videos that
are showing up on the screen right now.
Thanks for watching and I'll see you in
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