Palm Springs puts up welcome signs for Canadians amid U.S. trade war

Uncertain economic times are generating a welcoming response in parts of the U.S., including Palm Springs in Southern California where the local government is posting street banners that read “Palm Springs loves Canada.”

Statistics from aviation data firm Official Airline Guide show airline bookings between Canada and the United States have plummeted by more than 70 per cent for the upcoming summer months compared to last year.

Palm Spring’s mayor says the signage is an important statement and gesture on a lot of levels.

“One is pure and basic, there are a lot of Canadians that call Palm Springs home for three months plus out of the year,” says Mayor Ron deHarte.

But with over 300,000 northern visitors each year to a city of only 45,000, deHarte says the intention of the messaging goes beyond that

“Yes, there is an economical impact that is significant when you have that size of a group that is coming to your city,” he says.

Some travellers at the Calgary International Airport tell CityNews the welcoming gesture makes a difference.

“At least as a Canadian, I’d be more willing to shop somewhere if they said anything about Canada, like wow you see us as a country,” said one person.

Another traveller heading to Palm Springs went as far as saying Canada should reciprocate the gesture towards the U.S.

“I mean, let’s welcome all people,” they said. “I love to travel, so why not make it reciprocal, you know what I mean?”

For now, guests flying into Palm Springs will arrive to the signs that for some, lessen the sting of a Canadian dollar worth approximately 70 cents to the U.S. dollar.

The Canadian government recently updated its advisory to warn residents travelling to the United States they may face scrutiny from border guards and the possibility of detention if denied entry.

Crossings from Canada into the United States dropped by about 32 per cent, or 864,000 travellers, in March compared to the same month a year ago, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.