Tourism officials had been predicting this for years - and unfortunately it looks like they were right. When the new passport requirements for land crossings between Canada and the USA kicked in on June 1st tourism numbers for Americans coming here went south - big time.

This from the Globe and Mail.....
[New passport rules are keeping Americans at home, with June numbers showing that travel to Canada from the United States fell to its lowest level since Statistics Canada started tracking cross-border trips in 1972. The number of same-day car trips from the United States was down 26 per cent in June from May, while the overall number of U.S. tourists plummeted to about half of what it was five years ago.]
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nation...article1257883/

It has impacted attendance at Jays games too - as there have not been nearly as many Yankees or Red Sox fans when those teams have played up here. And on one news report I saw the other night some Red Sox fans - who were up here to see their team play the (fast sinking - sigh!) Jays - they reported how some of them had to scramble to get passports in the last few days, not aware of the change.

It is hoped this major tourism problem will be alleviated somewhat in the future once more states and provinces start to issue enhanced drivers licenses - which will be allowed as substitute ID at land crossings. People will still need their passports if flying across the border.

Came as no surprise to me Travelpat. I am glad my state, Wash. decided to go with the enhanced drivers license option. I haven't heard how successful or not its been, but its so much cheaper than a passport. I am thinking about getting one soon, as I would like to go north soon!

Non-expedited, I received my passport card in 1 week. I received my regular passport in just over 2 weeks. This was my first passport too, so it was not renewal.

I can see where it would keep some from crossing the border, but I think if more people knew how quick the turnover time is, then it truly is no big deal. The expense of purchasing both was just over 100$ US.

I think in this economy the expense for an entire family could be excessive- but being single- not too bad.

I flew up to Toronto for business on Monday morning, returning Monday night. The flight up was no problem, just the extra step of having to enter my passport # when I checked in online the night before, and then physically showing my passport at the gate. Immigration at Pearson was a breeze - no line - but the immigration officer, a woman who looked no much more than 25 - was really aggressive in her questioning, wondering why I was flying in and out the same day, asking where my meeting was, what was on the agenda, who else would be there, what did I do for my employer, who could verify that. It was really offensive - the only similar level of questioning I've ever been subjected to was in Israel and Cambodia. I though leaving was going to be a huge hassle when I saw the line for travel to the US, but oddly enough it was all staffed by US Homeland Security even though it was in the Toronto airport Why is that?), and the long line moved very quickly and efficiently.

Side note: with all the money they have spent refurbishing Casa Loma, why oh why haven't they installed air conditioning? It was unbearbale in there on Monday......

Funny you say that cuz the 3 times I've flown into & out of Montreal I experienced the same thing. The last time was actually a year b4 9/11 so go figure. I'm guessing tho that many non-Americans may think the same thing about our immigration officers. But I'm not sure. Perhaps others can give their input.

Yes, it can be the same on southbound visitors, especially if your visits are brief and frequent. I was asked to give phone number and address of my hotel in NYC and they seem to find it odd that I did not know this and had to look at my travel itinerary.
One guy at the office was going to Chicago to spend 10 days with his twin brother to celebrate their 50th birthdays. He was questioned at the border for 2 hours before being allowed to cross.

I've actually seen a fair number of Boston Red Sox fans (families with kids) wandering around downtown Toronto this week, so I thought that was a good sign that Americans are still coming to Canada.

U.S. Immigration (who pre-screen you in the Toronto airport) do seem to be getting more stringent in recent years. The last time I went to the U.S. (almost a year and a half ago to NYC), the agent gave me a funny look when he asked why I was going and I said "for holidays," or something like that. He asked me something like, "What holiday is that?" as if to ask what (non-standard) holiday was it. I said I was taking a vacation, as I use the words holidays/vacation days interchangeably. I gather that Americans do not do this (although, what about the Madonna song "Holiday?" That's not about a statutory holiday or a religious holiday, is it? Isn't it about "a day out of life" ie. a vacation?). Anyhoo, I will be sure to say "vacation" next time, not "holiday."

Many years ago, though, I had my worst experience. I was flying on a one-way ticket to the U.S. (and planned to use a frequent flyer voucher for the return trip). I think the agent thought I was living and working illegally in the U.S. He asked to see my wallet (saying "I'm not going to find a U.S. driver's license in here, am I?"), went through my luggage, and almost wasn't going to let me go. As it happened, I had a credit card bill with my Canadian address (I had left the house in a rush and was going to mail it from the U.S.) and that helped. Also, all my I.D., credit cards etc. were clearly Canadian.

I'm always cautious now when I'm going to the U.S. I have my whole "story" thought through in my mind. Where am I going? Where am I staying? Who will I be seeing? How do I know that person? How long will I be there? Am I bringing anything with me to give to friends/relatives that I may be meeting? Where do I live? Where do I work? Etc.

So it's good news, then!

I'm not surprised & I figured that those coming to the States would encounter the same scrutiny. My last experience & the questions more or less:

Q: Why are coming to Montréal?
A: To visit my friends.

Q: Where are you staying?
A: With my friends.

Q: Where do your friends live?
A: Mont-Royal.

Q: What do your friends do in Mont-Royal?
A: One's a professor @ the Université de Montréal. The other owns his travel business.

Q: How long will your stay be?
A: 1 week.

Q: What do you plan to do while in Montréal?
A: Spend time w/ my friends, eat out, go nightclubbing, shopping prolly. Nothing really set in stone.

Q: So what day are you leaving Canada?
A: I gave the date, something like Sept. 3.

Then there was a pause, a very long & rude stare, & then he said, Move on!

His tone throughout was like if I was being interrogated.

...But 2 hours sib? Oy!



lol!

When I was up there in March I explained that I was going to see some World Baseball Classic games and the woman couldn't have been nicer.

Oh, the one thing I forgot to say to the immigration officer was that the only "set" plan was that we were going to visit Québec City (it was my 1st & only time). Oh well! I guess it didn't matter by the time I "went thru".



The only time I've had a nice experience--surprisingly--was when I went to Paris. The only thing I was asked was where I flew in from. I said Los Angeles & he stamped my passport & I moved on.

Edit:

...& don't get me started on Mexico's immigration officers.

Back to topic.

Yeah the notion of having to purchase a passport for many people is an expense that they may think twice about, especially right now w/ the economy & all. & as kick pted out, imagine having to travel w/ your family & what the costs would entail. Finally, it may also be that many people who have never applied for a passport might think that the application process may be too tedious & time-consuming, plus having to wait for it to arrive. I remember reading a few months back that you should apply @ least 6 months in advance for one. Cuz apparently w/ Homeland Security & all, it's supposed to take a bit to receive it after you've applied. Altho kick said his came quick so... I haven't renewed my passport so I'm really not sure what the average time of receiving a passport is.

So yes, I'm guessing that all of the above contributing factors may be the main reasons why Americans are visiting Canada less. I do know that US National Park vacations are definitely up cuz of the cheap cost.

I've never been grilled by non-US immigration officers the way some on this board seem to have been, and I've traveled extensively. I've been to Canada in my car twice (crossing in & out at Blaine, Washington, and crossing in at Windsor, Ontario, out south of Québec City at the Maine border), and I've flown into/out of Pearson (Toronto)... about six times, I think. Oh, and once I drove my rental car from Toronto to Niagara Falls, and walked across the border at the Friendship Bridge.

The Canadians couldn't have been nicer. The Americans... For some reason I was always asked if I had visited any farms while I was in Canada.

LOL! You should have seen the look on the US guy's face on the New York end of the bridge. The questions were typical.

Q: Nationality?
A. US

Q: Where are you from?
A. San Francisco

Q: What?! How'd you get into Canada?
A. I flew into Toronto on a business trip, and drove my rental car down the QEW to the other end of the bridge, and walked across...

Our latest draw for Canadians is... Bill Clinton! Yes, the former president will be speaking at BMO Field (where the Toronto FC soccer team plays) on Saturday August 29th. His topic is "Embracing Our Common Humanity," and was originally billed as his first public speaking engagement since returning from North Korea. Tickets are $19.99 to $50 and include admission to the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition, also known as "The Ex" ... similar to an American state fair). They say the venue can hold up to 25,000 for this event.



I saw on the news that some gov't stimulus money is going to the National Park system for upgrades, improvements and repairs of crumbling facilities. The park rangers are thrilled because they are not well funded and are usually ignored by bureaucrats. To the critics who question the monies, they say that (a) people will be put to work upgrading the parks, and (b ) it will help encourage Americans to travel within their own country and see the beauty of their national parks.

So, if one of the results of recession is people spending more time exploring their own state/province or country, then that's probably a good thing. I know I will be spending a week's vacation in my hometown Toronto for the film festival in September. I also plan to go down to Stratford, Ontario, to see a couple of shows at the Stratford Festival. No need to travel abroad. There's plenty to do around home.