KALISPELL — It started as an anecdote: Rumors of canceled reservations and worries that rising tensions, triggered by President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada, might deter visits to Montana.

But eight months later, the concern is now supported by real data, especially in the Flathead Valley, which has long depended on Canadian tourism to bolster local coffers.

According to the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, credit card spending by Canadians in Kalispell has decreased by 39% through the end of September compared to the same period last year. Traffic at the Rooseville border crossing, the closest port to the Flathead Valley, has also declined this year.

In August 2024, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 69,049 people crossed from Canada to the United States. A yea

See Full Page