A “significant drop” in Canadians visiting the U.S. this summer has resulted in a drop in business of nearly 20 percent for the seasonal ferry that operates between Bar Harbor and Nova Scotia, according to the ferry operator.
The CAT, which began seasonal service across the Gulf of Maine on May 15, has seen its bookings increase as the summer has progressed. But as of last week, it had 24,613 bookings so far this summer, while at the same point in 2024 it had 30,422, the company said. That’s a decline of 19 percent from last year.
“We are pleased to see this year’s bookings going up as the year progresses, despite significant headwinds as many Canadians are choosing not to travel to the United States,” said Mark Wilson, chief executive officer of Bay Ferries Limited. “We remain committed to welcoming passengers from around the world on this unique transportation link between New England and the Maritimes.”
That decline is smaller than — but consistent with — a national decline in cross-border traffic to the U.S. from Canada, which last month was down by a third overall compared to June of 2024, according to a report by Forbes.
The dropoff stems from antagonistic rhetoric from President Donald Trump, who has called Canada the “51st state” and threatened steep import tariffs against the northern neighbor since he took office in January. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was still in office when Trump was sworn in, responded by saying citizens would avoid visiting the U.S.
“Canadians are hurt. Canadians are angry,” Trudeau said this spring. “We’re going to choose not to go on vacation in Florida or Old Orchard Beach or wherever.”
Gov. Janet Mills, who has publicly feuded with Trump over Maine’s willingness to allow transgender student-athletes participate in school sports, has sought to offset the president’s rhetoric on Canada. She traveled to Canada last month to promote good relations between Maine and the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and rode The CAT back from Nova Scotia to Bar Harbor, where she distributed window display signs welcoming Canadians to some local businesses.
“Having received such strong support from the Government of Nova Scotia over the years, we are grateful that Governor Mills took the time to experience this ocean connection to her state,” Wilson said.
So far this year, the catamaran ferry has completed 37 round trips, with seven round trips cancelled, all due to poor weather conditions in May and June, the company said. Regionally, every weekend in May and a couple in June had rain.
Despite the lower numbers for the ferry’s ridership, and the lack of large cruise ship traffic, the number of tourists visiting Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park this year has not tapered off.
Last month, Acadia had its second-busiest June ever, with 630,000 visits. The park had more than 660,000 visits in June of 2021, which is the only year it has ever exceeded 4 million visits.
So far for 2025, Acadia is on pace for its second-busiest year ever, according to statistics released Monday by the National Park Service. From January through June, the park was just shy of 1.1 million visits, compared to 1.17 million visits for the first six months of 2021.
Everal Eaton, director of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, said that the local tourism businesses have accepted that for political and economic reasons, they won’t have many Canadians among their customers this summer. He said some Canadians are making the trip, and that local merchants will be ready to welcome them back in larger numbers “when the timing is right.”
But, like Acadia, Bar Harbor has been busy this summer, he said. Some local businesses that cater to tourists have not been doing well, he said — in large part because of Bar Harbor’s new limits on large cruise ships — but others have said they are having their best summer ever. Overall, he predicted that 2025 will be similar to last year, when Acadia had an estimated 3.9 million visits.
“It’s kind of averaging each other out,” Eaton said of how different businesses are being affected in varying ways by the unusual 2025 tourist season.
