Canadians Curtail Trips to U.S. Ski Areas, Hitting Border Resorts’ Winter Revenues

As political tensions spill into consumer choices, a discernible drop in Canadian visitation to U.S. mountain resorts has emerged this winter, leaving operators near the northern border to contend with softer demand. Local managers say fewer day-trippers and short-stay visitors from Canada have translated into lower lift-ticket sales and quieter on-mountain commerce, a change felt most acutely by facilities that rely on frequent cross-border traffic. The effect is concentrated in northeastern and midwestern corridors where Canadian guests historically supplied a steady flow of weekend business; resort revenue streams tied to food, lodging and equipment rental are especially exposed. Beyond immediate takings, the shift is complicating seasonal planning: resorts face uncertainty around staffing needs, pass-holder churn and promotional spend while trying to avoid deeply discounted pricing that would erode margins. For Canadian skiers, the choices reflect a mix of protest-driven avoidance and reassessment of travel value—some are choosing domestic slopes or altering trip timing rather than traveling south. The movement also creates secondary consequences for regional suppliers and year-round service providers who depend on winter visitor volumes. Destination marketers on both sides of the border are adjusting messaging; American operators increasingly emphasize safety, value and family-friendly experiences to blunt reputational fallout. If the trend solidifies, capital projects and offseason investments at smaller resorts could be delayed, while larger integrated resorts with diversified markets remain more insulated. The development underscores how geopolitical rhetoric can have immediate, measurable effects on consumer sectors that trade on discretionary mobility. Recovery will hinge on either a rapid normalization of political signals, targeted marketing that rebuilds confidence among Canadian guests, or a strategic pivot to alternative markets and product offerings. Observers note that changes in booking patterns this season should be treated as a warning sign rather than a long-term structural collapse for the industry. Still, for communities that depend on winter tourism, even a modest erosion of Canadian traffic presents a meaningful economic headwind.