With border reopening a possibility next month, Whatcom prepares to welcome Canadians
Update Monday, July 17: Canada to reopen its border for fully vaccinated Americans starting Aug. 9; U.S. uncertain
With Canada exploring the idea of reopening its border to Americans by mid-August, Whatcom’s tourism industry is gearing up for the possibility of welcoming Canadians back as well.
The U.S. hasn’t made a formal announcement yet about its plans for allowing Canadians into places like Whatcom County, but there’s an expectation that the two countries are working on similar reopening schedules.
Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement released by his office Thursday, July 15, that the mid-August reopening for fully vaccinated Americans could happen “if our current positive path of vaccination rate and public health conditions continue.” He added that more details about border reopening plans will be shared next week.
U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called Trudeau’s remarks a promising update for the border, which has been closed since March 2020 to non-essential travel because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Reopening the Canadian border to fully vaccinated Americans will help Point Roberts and our border communities start to build back from the pandemic. The U.S. must do the same,” DelBene said in an email.
In the meantime, Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism is busy putting together a major marketing campaign to welcome back Canadians.
“We’re hoping that they are ready to come down for an overnight trip or two. We’ve missed them,” said Sandy Ward, president and CEO of the tourism agency.
How the border reopening will work remains a bit muddled. While Trudeau said Canada is focused on allowing only fully vaccinated Americans to visit Canada, it’s not yet clear whether the U.S. will require the same proof from Canadians. It’s also unclear whether Canadians, who polls indicate are reluctant to see the border reopen, will come to the U.S. once it is open to them.
Ward suspects there will be a rush for some things, like Canadians checking on their property in Point Roberts or picking up packages at mail services businesses in Blaine. More trips like cross-border shopping will probably happen more often in the fall, she said.
While it might take some time, Canadian shopping should return because some of the incentives that were in place for Canadians before the pandemic still exist, said Guy Occhiogrosso, president and CEO of Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce. Sales taxes are lower in U.S. compared to Canada, he said, adding that the U.S. continues to have products that are not found in Canada and others are simply less expensive.
When Canadians do come down to visit Whatcom County, Ward said they will see a tourism industry that’s already bouncing back. It’s been a busy summer for hotels, with most of them fully booked on the weekends with visitors from the region, particularly Seattle and Portland. That influx of regional tourists is expected to continue as more events are starting to return for the late summer and early fall.
Prior to the pandemic, cross-border shopping was a significant contributor to Whatcom County’s economy. The Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University estimates Canadians spent $140 million in this area in 2018, which represents 11.5% of Whatcom’’s taxable retail sales.
This story was originally published July 18, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
