GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. \u2014 U.S.-Canada tensions are taking a toll on American tourism, but West Michigan appears to be weathering the downturn better than other parts of the state.<\/p>\n
WATCH: West Michigan tourism holds strong amid Canadian visitor decline<\/p>\n
West Michigan tourism holds strong amid Canadian visitor decline<\/p>\n
A recent travel survey<\/a> published by Statistics Canada shows Canadian visits to the United States dropped 10.6% in the first quarter compared with the same period in 2025. Canadians took 5.5 million trips that included a U.S. visit in the first quarter, down from the prior year. Spending in the U.S. also fell sharply, declining 13.6% year over year to $5 billion. The report comes after a 25.4% decline in total Canadian visits to the U.S. in 2025 compared with 2024. <\/p>\n David Lorenz, director of the West Michigan Tourist Association, said the broader trend has been felt across the country \u2014 but the impact has been uneven. He said the hardest-hit areas in Michigan have been closer to the Canadian border.<\/p>\n “It’s hurt us, but mostly on the other side of the state. Detroit has probably had about a 20% loss in Canadian travel this year,” Lorenz said.<\/p>\n West Michigan, he said, draws relatively few Canadian visitors to begin with \u2014 and the region’s tourism numbers have remained strong thanks to new local attractions.<\/p>\n “The Grand Rapids region itself is doing really well. You have the new venues like the amphitheater, Gun Lake expanding with the Wawy\u00e9 Oasis,” Lorenz said.<\/p>\n That momentum is evident at Social Misfits in downtown Grand Rapids, where General Manager Rylee Powell said this summer has been one of the best the business has seen.<\/p>\n “If anything, it’s been busier this year because of the amphitheater. The sales this year compared to last year is pretty insane,” Powell said.<\/p>\n Despite the positive local outlook, Lorenz said he hopes the political tensions driving the broader decline don’t eventually reach West Michigan, and offered a message to travelers on both sides of the border.<\/p>\n “Travelers shouldn’t be part of this controversy. This is a political thing that I hope that we, as travelers, can just think beyond and continue to experience what we want,” Lorenz said.<\/p>\n This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.<\/p>\n Follow FOX 17: Facebook<\/a> – Twitter<\/a> – Instagram<\/a> – YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n