'We miss you': Bellingham businesses struggle as B.C. tourism plummets
The number of British Columbians travelling to Washington state has drastically dropped throughout the summer, and businesses just south of British Columbia are feeling the effects.
A recent study released by the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and Border Policy Research Institute (BPRI) at Western Washington University paints a tough reality for many small businesses in Whatcom County.
One of them is Minted Method, a curated baby, kids, and mamas boutique owned by Sasha Lysikov in the Fairhaven Neighbourhood.
According to Lysikov, the drop in Canadian visitors became impossible to ignore this summer.
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“In past years, we’d regularly see B.C. license plates parked outside the store, especially on weekends,” Lysikov told Daily Hive. “This year, the number of B.C. plates is just a fraction of what we’ve seen in summers past. Our sales data reflected what we were seeing in real time.
“I’ve spoken with other local business owners, and the consensus is the same: Canadian traffic is down, and it’s being felt across retail, dining, and hospitality industries.”
Data in the study titled, Cross-Border Vulnerabilities in Cascadia: Regional and Business Impacts of Trade and Tariff Policies, reinforce what the Minted Method owner and other small businesses are seeing on the streets outside of their stores.
Fifty per cent of respondents to the joint survey by the Bellingham Chamber and Western Washington University’s Border Policy Research Institute said that the drop in Canadians crossing the border was damaging their businesses.
And 59 per cent of small businesses in the area who participated in the study also said that they relied on Canadian customers.
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“The results show a significant impact on our business community, cross-border commerce and tariffs alike,” said Guy Occhiogrosso, president and CEO of Bellingham Chamber of Commerce. “Additionally, it shows that many of our businesses are not impacted at all. I would tend to guess that more of our business community is impacted than other locations in the country, simply due to our proximity to the border.
“Since February, when much of this trade war and political rhetoric (including 51st state comments) started, we have noticed each month we have been down compared to the same month last year. Sometimes that number was close to 50 per cent down.”
The Whatcom Council of Governments’ 2025 Changes in Border Volume data shows that in July 2025, the volume of southbound vehicles from B.C. to Washington state dropped by 28 per cent compared to the same period in 2024.
It’s the sixth month in a row of a decline in crossings, though there is a slight uptick from June 2025.
Canadians who plan to cross the U.S. border this year also may have a higher chance of getting their phones and other electronic devices searched.
The latest data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reveal that 14,899 international travellers’ electronic devices were searched between April and June this year, up from 12,260 in the previous quarter. It’s also a significant spike from the previous highest number of devices (12,766) searched in 2022, between January and March.
City of Bellingham
Respondents to the Cross-Border Vulnerabilities in Cascadia study shared anonymous personal experiences of how U.S. policies were impacting their business.
“Most of my customers avoid crossing the border because they fear being sent for secondary inspection and possibly refused entry. Another major reason is the high tariffs imposed on both sides,” said one person.
“Canadians make up 25 to 30 per cent of our total customer base,” commented another Bellingham small business owner. “We are missing at least half of those customers.”
“Some Canadians are literally afraid to cross into the US for fear of imprisonment and deportation,” added another.
Lysikov shared that she had heard that a mix of factors, including exchange rates, spending caps, and the overall border crossing experience, all play a role in a decrease in Canadian visitors to Bellingham.
“For many Canadians, the added costs and logistical hassles make cross-border shopping less appealing than it once was,” she said. “I believe we can win them back if some of these hurdles are eased, but for now, it’s understandable why some are choosing to stay local.
“We’ve been doing everything we can to adapt, running promotions, cutting expenses, and expanding online, but without a rebound in foot traffic, especially from Canadians who have always been an important part of our customer base, the future of our storefront is uncertain.”
Minted Method
Occhiogrosso said that Bellingham’s connection to residents north of the border in B.C. is one that supersedes policy and the economy.
“Our story is one of community, and for many of your readers, probably family,” he said. “Many Canadians own property in Whatcom County, own businesses in Whatcom County, or choose to be here because they have family on either side of the border.
“I recognize why many Canadians are choosing not to shop right now, and I think it’s important to share that we warmly welcome you back when you are ready – whether that is next month or in three and a half years.”
Lysikov and her small business, Minted Method, hope that it is much sooner than that.
“We miss you. Your visits mean more than you know, not just for the sales, but for the energy and connection you bring to our community,” she said. “If it’s been a while since your last trip to Bellingham, I encourage you to come down, explore Fairhaven, shop small, and make a day of it. Every purchase you make at a local store truly matters.
“We’re ready to welcome you back with open arms. Supporting local businesses on both sides of the border helps keep our communities thriving.”