Upstate NY Tourism operators feel summer burglaries while the Canadians keep away in droves

The Deer River campsite in the state of New York is calmer than usual this year. The beach is less crowded and the residents of the lake are safer from zealous fishermen.

The campsite, about 50 kilometers southeast of Cornwall, Ontario, is one of several American companies near the border that feels the sting of the Canadian summer vacation that travel to the USA

According to co-owner Gil Paddock, the 83-digit campsite is almost exclusively dependent on summer campers to stay in business. In a normal year, Canadians make up a third of his summer visitors.

But things are different this year. Border crossings in the USA from Canada are below. In June, 17 percent fewer people drove from Canada to New York than in the same period of the previous year.

It was a fight for business owners like Paddock. The retired State Trooper has headed the campsite for 43 years, but this year was one of the worst for business.

“As we go, my end will be a lot of different years,” he said. “I just have to roll with the blows, I think.”

Paddock accuses a culture of fear that is developed around us around us. He heard that potential visitors are concerned that their security at the border or if they reach their destination in the States.

Those who did the trip this summer are mainly regular customers, and Paddock said they had no problems crossing the border.

“There is nothing to be afraid of,” he said.

Paddock is not alone. Dan Kelleher, CEO of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (Roost) in Lake Placid, NY, says that hotel revenue in the region has dropped by about eight percent and sales with restaurants have dropped by 20 to 30 percent.

He accuses boycotte and economic fears – the Canadian dollar has been making a value of around 73 cents for months.

“I think [from] Americans and our Canadian visitors, “he said.

Roost has increased its marketing budget for the region, but companies still feel the pinch.

Doug Haney, who leads the bicycle Adirondack in Saranac Lake, NY, offers the Canadians a discount for the Canadians on some of their company's bicycle tours this summer, but says that the demographic population, which once did 15 percent of its business, remains rejected.

“It is one of these things in which you feel pretty helpless,” he said. “I could spend marketing dollars to reach the Canadian audience, but it would just throw it in the air and let it leave it out.”

Haney said he gets from Canadian every day who only travel to the USA until his country changes.

“I understand and I understand it and I sympathize and I am sensitive,” he said. “We are here when you are ready to come.”