Tariffs and Collateral Damage: Tourism?
The international tariff war has also morphed into a tourism battle, with two of the largest countries for tourists coming to the United States—Canada and the United Kingdom—discouraging their citizens from visiting our country.
This could have direct and indirect impacts on wineries in border states like New York, especially in the Thousand Islands and Niagara regions which largely depend on cross-border visitors in their tasting rooms. Even regions like the Finger Lakes, just a couple hours from Niagara Falls, wineries will feel the direct hit, and the regions will lose business in hotels, restaurants, gift shops, gas stations, which all feed into local tax bases.
Recently, members of the New York Wine Policy Institute (NYWPI) held a Zoom with the staff of Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) who represents the Finger Lakes region, and followed up with a detailed letter of how this situation is already hurting wineries across New York State which have worked for decades to get where they are today in terms of growth, economic impact, and international reputation for great wines and as tourist destinations.
Winery associations in the other border states may wish to do the same. We’ll certainly be taking this message to Congress during our DC Fly-In on May 6-7.
Oh, and by the way, many other areas will suffer as well: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is a favorite destination among many Canadians, especially those who love golf. Based on reports from our neighbors to the north, the courses should be pretty empty this year.