Political friction at the government level between Canada and the United States has not translated into a collapse of cross-border goodwill or visitorship, according to recent polling and provincial tourism figures that matter to Manitoba’s economy.
A new Angus Reid Institute survey shows a substantial majority of Americans continue to look favourably on Canada — a pattern that aligns with steady travel from the United States to Manitoba, where U.S. visitors are contributing disproportionately to tourism spending.
Positive public sentiment endures
The Angus Reid data indicate that 79 per cent of Americans view Canadians favourably, with 78 per cent saying the U.S. should approach Canada as a friend or ally. By contrast, Canadian views of Americans are more divided: the polling found 45 per cent of Canadians view Americans favourably while 48 per cent view them unfavourably.
“It didn’t weigh in. That’s between governments and not citizens. So, I feel like the average citizen in the U.S. or Canada would welcome each other,”
The speaker, a Minnesota resident visiting Winnipeg with friends, said political tensions did not factor into their decision to spend a weekend in Manitoba. The group — who live roughly four and a half hours from the city — chose the province for a short getaway.
Economic impact in Manitoba
Travel Manitoba reports the province is continuing to buck the national trend with strong U.S. visitation. While Americans make up about 3 per cent of visitors to the province, they account for 7 per cent of visitor spending, a sign of high per-capita expenditure. Travel Manitoba says U.S. travellers often spend nearly $400 a day.
That spending is significant for communities across Manitoba, supporting jobs in both urban centres and rural areas and generating tax revenue.
“American visitors are loving everything that our province has to offer... it is an important part of our economy,”
The comment was provided by Angela Cassie, the interim president and CEO of Travel Manitoba, who highlighted attractions from beluga whale and polar bear viewing to aurora watching and lake‑based recreation as draws for American tourists.
What the numbers tell us
The data underline two linked trends: favourable perceptions among U.S. residents, and a tendency for those who do travel to spend more while in Manitoba. That combination helps explain why the province is experiencing resilient U.S. tourism even if overall visitor numbers from other markets lag.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Americans who view Canadians favourably | 79% |
| Americans who favour treating Canada as friend/ally | 78% |
| Share of Manitoba visitors who are American | 3% |
| Share of visitor spending from Americans | 7% |
| Approximate U.S. traveller daily spend | ~$400 |
Local consequences and adaptation
For tourism operators and municipal governments, the high spending profile of U.S. guests matters more than raw visitor counts. A smaller number of well‑spending visitors can sustain restaurants, outfitters, hotels and tour operators, especially in remote and rural parts of the province where tourism dollars have an outsized local economic impact.
At the same time, Travel Manitoba says more Canadians are exploring destinations closer to home, using RVs, cars, trains and planes. That domestic interest may temper reliance on any single market and contribute to a broader recovery in tourism activity.
What travellers should know
- Americans remain broadly favourable toward Canadians despite political tensions at the governmental level.
- U.S. visitors currently make up a small share of total visitors but contribute a larger share of spending in Manitoba.
- High per‑visitor spending supports jobs and tax revenues, particularly in rural communities reliant on seasonal tourism.
For Manitoba businesses and communities that depend on travel and hospitality, the mix of enduring public goodwill and above‑average spending by American visitors offers a valuable source of stability as the sector continues to adjust to changing travel patterns.
— Reporting for WE NEWS from Winnipeg.
