OLD ORCHARD BEACH –– If the battles over trade between the Trump Administration and the Canadian government are impacting tourism in Maine, you wouldn’t know it on the shore of Old Orchard Beach.
“People are still coming down, spending a lot of money, having a lot of fun,” said Kylie Reed, a manager at Hooligan’s Steak and Ale, a restaurant located in the town’s Pier area.
Over the summer, the Trump Administration has levied high tariffs on Canadian goods, and ordered that Lake Ontario be renamed “Lake America,” leading to retaliation by the Canadian government.
According to the Associated Press, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney accused the administration on Tuesday of “trying to be tough” as trade talks broke down.
On Wednesday, despite the ongoing animosity, both the American and Canadian flags flew at the entrance to the walking area of Old Orchard Street, which has been popular with both domestic and foreign tourists for decades.
It was quiet on Wednesday, but that’s to be expected, a typical lull before the Labor Day weekend, when everyone is planning for the usual big crowds.
Sarah Davis is spending her fifth straight season working as a manager for Bill’s Pizza. If anything, she said, she’s seen more Canadian tourists this summer, not fewer.
“I’ve noticed a huge difference compared to last year,” she said. “We’ve definitely seen a lot more Canadians up here, for sure.”
Most business owners and managers agreed that Canadians were not shying away, trade wars or no. It was most obvious the week after July 4, which is a typical time for Canadians to take vacations and come to Old Orchard Beach.
Reed said there were plenty of foreign tourists in her establishment that week.
“I think we had all of Quebec in here,” she joked.
JJ’s Eatery, just around the corner from Bill’s Pizza, also had a noticeable number of Canadian tourists, especially in July, according to Manager Paolo DeMarco.
“I’ve seen a fair amount,” he said.
Just up the street on Wednesday, a Canadian flag flew outside Johnny Shucks, an outdoor seafood eatery. Blendi Frrokaj has been manager for three years. He said there was a bit of a slump in business in general, but overall the eatery did better this summer than last summer, he said.
“It’s not as bad as we expected it to be,” he said.
At least one worker noticed a dip in foreign travel. MaKaLeigh Eastman, a bartender at Lazy Days, a restaurant on 1st Street, said she’s seen a drop-off in traffic.
“I just haven’t really seen Canadians,” she said.
Eastman said she thinks the trade wars are to blame. The few Canadian tourists she has seen were all bashing the current administration, with some tourists saying they didn’t plan to be back.
“I’ve had a few tables definitely mention it,” she said.
Most other businesses, however, said the opposite – not only are tourists still coming, but they seem to be good-natured.
“I feel like they’re just here to have a good time, eat good food, go to the beach with their families,” Davis said.
