Michigan tourism bureaus halt Canadian advertising amid Trump’s trade war

Several Michigan tourism bureaus are pausing advertising in Canada as President Donald Trump’s trade war and recent antagonist rhetoric about making America’s northern neighbor the 51st state dampen cross-border travel.

Industry insiders told Crain’s Grand Rapids Business this week at the Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Novi that Trump’s trade war, tariffs and newly strained relations with Canada are top-of-mind concerns for the state’s travel industry right now.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol data show the number of vehicle travelers crossing Michigan bridges from Ontario, Canada fell 10.2% in March compared to the same month in 2024, from about 1 million visitors to about 898,000….