U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, on Wednesday, released updated border-crossing figures that show traffic at all ports of entry in New York was down by nearly 290,000 travelers in April when compared to numbers from the same month last year.
Data from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol released by Schumer shows upstate New York and Canada saw 1,017,500 border crossings in April, compared to 1,307,381 during the same month in 2024.
Schumer said the numbers show a “whopping” 22% decrease across road and bridge crossings frequented by tourists, which include the Rainbow and Whirlpool bridges in Niagara Falls, Lewiston-Queenston Bridge in Lewiston and the Peace Bridge in Buffalo.
According to Schumer, CPB stats show auto crossings at the Rainbow Bridge declined by more than 31%, from 174,395 in April 2024 to 119,265 in April. At the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge, auto crossings decreased by more than 21%, from 32,211 to 25,377 over the same time period.
Traffic at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge in April dropped by more than 14%, from 239,645 auto crossings a year ago to 204,222 this past month. At the Peace Bridge, CBP numbers show a decline of more than 15%, from 366,159 auto crossings in April 2024 to 309,317 last month.
Schumer blamed the decline on Republican U.S. President Donald Trump, saying his rhetoric about annexing Canada as America’s 51st state and other “destructive” comments have contributed to the numbers which show many Canadians are choosing to stay home instead of traveling to the United States. Trump’s tariff policies, which include levying 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, aren’t helping either.
“Burning bridges and ruining relationships with our closest ally and key trading partner, Canada, right when the summer tourism season is arriving, is about as destructive as it gets,” Schumer said. “Upstate NY is on the frontlines of Trump’s destructive tariff war, and this shocking new data shows our tourism economy is paying the price from Buffalo to Ogdensburg. Instead of lowering costs, Trump’s tariffs are raising prices for families and driving away tourists who spend billions in our shops, hotels, restaurants, and support thousands of New York jobs. If this trend of depressed tourism continues, this could be a summer in Upstate New York that no small business wants to remember.”
John Percy, president and CEO of Destination Niagara, said his agency has heard directly from its tourism partners about the decline in cross-border travel and about the negative impact it has had on their businesses so far this year.
“There’s no question that the tariffs imposed on Canada and other countries are hurting international tourism to Niagara Falls USA — and, by extension, our local economy,” Percy said. “Hotel occupancy has been down every month this year compared to 2024, and if this trend continues through the summer, the consequences for our industry could be severe.”