Hawaii Tourism Officials Concerned as Canadian Cancellations Rise

The same Hawaii tourism leaders are expressing concern that if the current trend continues, the state could take a significant financial hit, according to a report from Hawaii News Now.

The news outlet quoted a Canadian couple at the Kahului Airport on Thursday who told a reporter they are “getting backlash from people back in Canada for not canceling their trip to Maui.”

The couple added that “it is no secret that many Canadians are no longer supporting the U.S.,” according to the publication.

Separately, Hawaii Tourism Canada recently gave a presentation for the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s annual spring update that also touched upon the concerns regarding Canadian travelers. During that presentation, officials indicated that “Canadians are on edge” about their relationship with the U.S.

Tourism officials attributed this to President Trump imposing tariffs on Canada, a historic and long-time ally of the United States. The same officials said Canadians are concerned about Trump’s comments regarding making the country the 51st state.

Moreover, within Canada, there's a new sense of patriotism regarding supporting their own country. “Buy Canada” signs are now widespread throughout the country and Canadian political leaders are also advising citizens to avoid U.S. travel, according to the Hawaii News Now report.

In January, about 54,000 Canadians visited Hawaii, Hawaii News Now reported. But tourism leaders are concerned about what those numbers will look like come spring.

Faced with such concerns, Hawaii’s tourism officials are focusing on marketing efforts designed to set Hawaii apart from the rest of the United States.

“There’s some very different unique characteristics and attributes about Hawaii,” Hawai’i Tourism Authority board chair Mufi Hannemann said per Hawaii News Now. “We have a monarchical past. We have an indigenous Native Hawaiian culture that the Canadians have loved in the past.”

The Governor's office in Hawaii has also received emails from Canadians who no longer intend to visit the United States. In response, the following statement was issued:

“Governor Green and the people of Hawai’i deeply value the enduring friendship between our state and Canada—a bond strengthened over generations by shared experiences, values, and aloha.

We understand that current geopolitical developments may be concerning, but please know that Hawai’i’s heart remains open to our Canadian friends. Your visits over the years have supported local businesses, uplifted local families, and created meaningful connections that we greatly cherish.

We hope our Northern friends will consider keeping Hawai’i in future travel plans. The warmth and hospitality of our people remain steadfast, and they will always have a place here.”

The fallout now unfolding in Hawaii follows a recent report from Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, which said that the Trump Administration’s escalating global trade war poses significant “high-risk consequences” for the U.S. travel industry, including potentially causing sharp declines in travel demand.

The report explained that there is a “risk to the US travel sector should trade disputes and other policy changes intensify," adding that an expanded trade war under the new presidential administration could “result in sharper declines in travel demand and economic output than previously projected.”