Concerned that Donald Trump’s policies might deter Canadians—a vital part of their tourism sector—a resort city in California has erected “Palm Springs Loves Canada” signs throughout its downtown area.
“This was a gesture to reassure our Canadian visitors that the issues in Washington DC do not reflect Palm Springs’ view of Canada,” stated Ron deHarte, the city’s mayor, regarding the signs that were installed last Friday.
According to DeHarte, approximately 300,000 Canadians visit the Palm Springs area annually, with many staying for extended periods to escape the harsh winters of Canada for the consistent warmth of Southern California. However, the mayor noted that he has received feedback from some Canadians expressing their dissatisfaction with the US government’s tariffs and rhetoric towards Canada, leading them to cancel their yearly trips and vow to “not spend a dime in Palm Springs.”
DeHarte acknowledged this perspective but emphasized that he and other local officials aim to convey a “positive message” in hopes of encouraging Canadians to reconsider their plans.
Canadian tourists contribute an estimated $300 million to the region each year and “support around 2,000 jobs in the hospitality sector,” DeHarte mentioned. “So when we have a group of visitors opting to leave early or deciding against coming next year, it’s considerable. It impacts our restaurants, stores, theaters, arts, and essentially all our businesses. The maids, the janitors—everyone feels the economic repercussions from the loss of those incoming dollars.”
Should Canadians choose not to return to Palm Springs next winter, it will have implications beyond just the economy, the mayor added.
“They volunteer. You’ll see Canadians at our events, participating in every way they can,” deHarte noted. “These aren’t just visitors lounging by the pool; they are truly integral to our community.”
The initiative to display supportive signs for Canada was first brought to light by The Palm Springs Post, which highlighted that a local car wash, Desert Hand Wash, had already put up a large “We Love Canada” sign even before the city’s officials took any actions.
“Canadian customers account for 30% of my business in the winter. It’s imperative we take meaningful steps,” said Bob Smiland, owner of the car wash, as reported by The Palm Springs Post.
Palm Springs, a desert paradise located two hours from Los Angeles, is known for its vacation homes and vibrant LGBTQ+ community. In 2018, it became home to the first all-LGBTQ+ city council in the U.S., a significant milestone in a city where inclusion has long been commonplace. A recent protest against Trump and Elon Musk in Palm Springs attracted thousands, and demonstrators have been rallying outside a local Tesla store for several weeks.
However, what some residents refer to as Palm Springs’ “liberal bubble” has not shielded it from the fallout of Trump’s policies on trade, immigration, and LGBTQ+ rights—nor from his continued comments suggesting Canada should become the “51st state” while derisively labeling then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a “governor.”
Earlier in April, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a 25% tax on U.S. cars, referring to Trump’s tariffs on Canadian steel and automobiles as “unjustified.”
As Canadian sports fans have started to boo the U.S. national anthem and some have adopted the phrase “elbows up” to express their defiance against U.S. aggression, it appears that the political discord may also be affecting Canadian tourism to the United States.
Two Canadian budget airlines, WestJet and Flair, have recently cut back on flights between Western Canada and Palm Springs, attributing the reduction to decreased demand.
“Due to the current political climate, we have noticed a decline in demand for cross-border bookings between Canada and the U.S.,” WestJet spokesperson Josh Yates told the Guardian. “Interestingly, we are now observing increased interest in sun destinations across Mexico, the Caribbean, and even Europe.”
Several local real estate agents in the Palm Springs area have reported that Canadians are reaching out to discuss selling their California vacation homes in light of Trump’s policies.
“Within just two weeks of the tariffs discussions, I had sellers contacting me saying, ‘We’re leaving, Trump has irreparably harmed the relationship between Canada and the United States,’” said Palm Springs realtor Sherri Dettman in an interview with Fast Company.
Another local realtor, Paul Kaplan, posted a blog entry outlining the financial considerations Canadians should take into account when selling a U.S. vacation property.
A Canadian-American residing in Palm Springs mentioned to the Los Angeles Times that a group of his gay Canadian friends had cancelled their spring trip to Coachella to see Lady Gaga because of Trump’s policies.
Local officials are attentively watching these trends, although they believe the full repercussions of Canadians cancelling trips to Palm Springs will likely manifest during the next winter season.
“The economic impact will certainly be noticeable this year, but the real effects will be felt if this turmoil persists into next year,” deHarte remarked.
A study from 2021 revealed that Canadians owned 7% of vacation properties in the area, a proportion greater than that of any other foreign country. Compared to the typical Palm Springs visitor, Canadians generally tend to stay longer and spend more, according to a 2017 economic analysis.
“We can only hope this turmoil in DC will be short-lived, allowing everyone to return to their daily lives without fear for the impact on their financial well-being,” the mayor concluded.
