A coalition of Seattle business leaders is extending a warm welcome — and a generous discount — to Canadian visitors in an effort to revive cross-border tourism amid a sharp decline in travel from British Columbia.
Citing plunging ticket sales for the upcoming Seattle Mariners vs. Toronto Blue Jays series and a steep drop in border crossings, Ivar’s CEO Bob Donegan says it’s clear the city is missing its northern guests.
“We’re still under 20,000 total tickets sold for that weekend series, which tells me our Canadian friends aren’t coming — and we miss them,” said Donegan, who is widely known as the unofficial “Mayor of the Waterfront.”
Tourist travel from Canada, particularly via the Victoria Clipper, has fallen significantly. According to Donegan, Clipper visits from Victoria dropped 58% in March, while vehicle traffic at the Blaine border crossing has steadily declined from 5,000 cars per day in January to just 1,800 by March.
The trend has sparked concern among Seattle tourism stakeholders, with many pointing to rising political tensions, including controversial remarks about tariffs and talk of annexation from former President Donald Trump, as contributing factors. “I think Canadians are really upset — not just about policy, but about tone,” Donegan said.
Howard Wright, longtime Seattle business owner and civic leader, echoed those concerns. “This isn’t how we treat our neighbors,” Wright said. “I consider British Columbia part of our regional family — Cascadia — and we should treat them with respect.”
In response, Donegan, Wright, and other Seattle businesses have launched the “Open Arms for Canada” campaign, a grassroots effort offering exclusive discounts to Canadian visitors. Participating businesses are accepting the Canadian dollar at par — effectively giving visitors up to 30% off to account for exchange rates.
“We can’t change federal policy,” reads the campaign’s website. “But we can show our appreciation. We’re glad you’re here, and we’re on your side.”
Major Seattle attractions and businesses have already joined the initiative, including Argosy Cruises, Victoria Clipper, the Space Needle, Kenmore Air, and Ivar’s restaurants. Hospitality and dining partners such as the Sheraton Grand, Ethan Stowell Restaurants, Spinasse, Fremont Brewing, and several other hotels and eateries have also pledged their support.
All Canadians need to access the discount is a passport, a driver’s license — or, as Donegan joked, “if they use their Canadian accent, eh, we’ll accept that too.”
Meanwhile, the downturn in Canadian travel is being felt on both sides of the border. Peter Raju, who owns a large duty-free store near the Peace Arch crossing in White Rock, B.C., reported an 80% drop in business after British Columbia Premier David Eby advised residents to avoid travel to the U.S.
“On some days, we only have four customers,” Raju said during a Zoom interview, his 18,000-square-foot store completely empty. “President Trump’s repeated talk of Canada being the 51st state doesn’t sit well. It’s frustrating.”
Border data supports the anecdotal evidence. According to the Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University and the Cascade Gateway initiative, Canadian vehicle crossings into Whatcom County dropped 43% in March compared to the same time last year. In April 2025, the decline has worsened to 52%.
Despite the geopolitical friction, Seattle’s business community remains hopeful. “We know our Canadian neighbors are more than tourists — they’re part of who we are,” said Wright. “And right now, we just want to say: the welcome mat is out.”
