Canadian Tourism to US Museums Plummets Amid Political Tensions

In 2025, strained relations between Canada and the US resulted in a 30% decrease in Canadian cultural tourism to American museums. The Seattle Art Museum experienced a staggering 50% reduction in visitors from Canada, while the Portland Museum of Art's attendance plummeted from 800 to 350. At the John and Mable Ringling Museum, visitor numbers fell from 734 in January 2024 to 298 in January 2025. The Buffalo AKG Art Museum saw Canadian attendance drop from 7-10% to 2.4%. New York City recorded a decline from 983,000 to 800,000 visitors. Additionally, Washington State faced a 26% drop in border crossings in October 2025. Efforts to regain Canadian tourists were initiated in Bellingham and Buffalo, and Maine Governor Janet Mills visited Canada in the summer of 2025.