Lt. Governor BILLY NUNGESSER
Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is in Canada this week with state and local tourism officials trying to promote travel to Louisiana, but he’s finding Canadians are not interested in leisure trips to the United States because of President Trump’s previous statements and actions.
“We’ve seen a great fall-off, as all of America has, since become mentioned about making Canada 51st State and, of course, the tariffs,” Nungesser said.
Canada is Louisiana’s largest international tourism market. In 2024, the state welcomed an estimated 185,000 visitors from Canada, and Canadians spent nearly $194 million in the Bayou State. But Nungesser says this year, they’ve seen a decline in travel by Canadians to Louisiana.
“Many of them told us, at dinner last night they will not return until this President is not in office because of the comments about the 51st state. So it’s something we’re battling,” Nungesser said.
Joining Nungesser on this trip are representatives of the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana and nine parish tourism partners. Nungesser says they’ve been to Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City meeting with government and tourism officials, tour operators and media.
Mr. Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States, but Nungesser that kind of talk has rubbed Canadians the wrong way.
“If he would apologize for the comments about the 51st state, that would really help us out a lot to simmer over this bad blood that seems to be boiling up here in Canada,” Nungesser suggested.
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