Tim Walz switches on
US state begs for tourists from Canada
07/27/2025 – 4:27 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Minnesota benefited from tourists from Canada for a long time. This has ended since Trump’s second term. Now the US state wants to start a charm offensive.
The US state of Minnesota is currently increasingly promoting visitors from Canada to cushion the economic consequences of a continuing decline in cross-border tourism. According to a report by the travel portal Thestravel.com, Minnesota particularly suffers from the boycott behavior of many Canadians to the USA, which is reflected in falling visitor numbers. Even governor Tim Walz is now switching on.
Minnesota is located in the north of the United States and borders the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario. With several official border crossings and a long common border, the state is traditionally considered a popular destination for Canadian short and weekend visitors.
According to data from the US Travel Association and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the break-in among the Canadian guests could cost the US tourism industry around $ 20 billion and endanger up to $ 140,000. In Minnesota, more than half of all international visitors come from Canada.
Governor Tim Walz, who wanted to become Vice President of the United States under Kamala Harris, openly called the neighbors from the north in a press release to return: “We want our Canadian neighbors to know that they are not only welcome here – we expressly encourage ourselves to visit and continue our long -term friendship.”
The state tourism authority Explore Minnesota switches targeted advertising campaigns in Canadian cities such as Thunder Bay and Winnipeg. Their head Lauren Bennett McGinty emphasized in a message: “Minnesota is close, it is comfortable and offers experiences that feel both new and familiar. If you are looking for something special as a Canadian traveler this summer – Minnesota is ready for you!”
The background to the visitor boycott is political tensions between the USA and Canada. US President Donald Trump recently emphasized: “We have no agreement with Canada. We didn’t focus on it.” In addition, his government announced a new entry fee of $ 250 for international tourists, which, according to industry estimates, also has a deterrent.
The effects are clearly shown at the border crossings: In the first half of 2025, the number of Canadians who entered the USA by car dropped by around 28 percent compared to the previous year. According to government data from Canada, there were only around eight million border crossings by the end of June – after more than eleven million in the previous year. In Minnesota, too, the numbers have been declining in all months of the current year.
The loss of visitors affects not only hotels and hospitals, but also numerous smaller companies along the border. Economic pressure is one of the reasons why Minnesota is now actively promoting the return of his most important tourist group, the statement says.
