Border crossings from B.C. to the U.S. down for 5th consecutive month
Data from the Whatcom Council of Governments shows southbound travel from B.C. into Washington state was down 43 per cent in June compared to the same time last year.
The data shows there were 88,686 fewer recorded crossings at the Peach Arch, Pacific Highway, Lynden and Sumas points of entry throughout the month.
Southbound travel has been significantly down since February, when U.S. President Donald Trump began seriously talking about tariffing Canadian goods and threatened to annex the country. That triggered a wave of anti-U.S. sentiment and prompted multiple levels of government, including B.C. Premier David Eby, to encourage Canadians to support local — including through their travels.
June's drop comes amid the resumption of trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S., after the federal government scrapped its tax targeting large U.S. technology firms.
Border traffic had been down heading into 2025, but data shows the gap between 2024 and 2025 grew after Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20. Data also suggests many British Columbians chose to spend their spring break vacations locally.
Municipalities south of the border, including Blaine and Bellingham, have previously expressed their concerns over the drop, with Canadian visitors contributing significantly to their economy.
In May, the president of Bellingham's city council, together with the mayor, wrote a letter to B.C. cities voicing their "commitment" and "connection" with Canada.
WATCH | Border sees drop in southbound crossings from B.C.:
Meanwhile, Clare Mason with Destination B.C. tells CBC News the province has seen an "improvement" in tourism accommodation, with hotel occupancy up in "major destinations" from January to May compared to the same period last year.
Those include hotels in Vancouver as well as Victoria, Kamloops, Kelowna, Whistler and Richmond.
She says travel into B.C. fell in April and May, but has been picking up since, with a "significantly higher" number of air bookings from the U.S. and other markets scheduled for the summer. Air bookings for domestic travel are also up, she says.
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