Boston Businesses, Tour Groups Confront Decline in International Tourism

Boston-area businesses and tour operators are facing an international tourism downturn driven by weaker international arrivals and tariff tensions.

According to a HereBoston report, Massachusetts is projected to see a 10% drop in international tourism this year. Canadian tourism, in particular, is down 20% to 25% versus last summer — the steepest decline among all international markets.

Chris Stephens, chief operating officer and minority owner of the Boston Hidden Gems tour company, told Boston University's The Daily Free Press that he has witnessed a 33% year-over-year decline in Canadian tour participants. Stephens attributes the decline to political and tariff frictions between the United States and Canada.

Downtown retailers also report significant pressure on their businesses. According to HereBoston, retailers are facing up to a 40% drop in sales. May local operators, however, remain hopeful that Boston's historic attractions will help weather the downturn.

Meanwhile, businesses are turning to the domestic market, encouraging people to shop locally as much as possible. 

“We run a historic walking tour company. The Freedom Trail runs right through the center of Boston. It's never been more popular than it is now,” said Maureen McAleer, operations director of Hub Town Tours, where visitors can reserve tours around Boston's historic sites, in a statement to The Daily Free Press.

Tourism and neighborhood groups are actively promoting Boston through partnerships and events. Next year will feature three Boston-based events, all within about five to six weeks of each other. These events are expected to attract visitors from around the world to downtown Boston, said Michael Nichols, president of the Downtown Boston Alliance.

“It'll be an amazing year to be downtown,” Nichols said in a statement to The Daily Free Press. “Between [the Tall Ships], the World Cup, and the 250th birthday … it's going to be a crazy couple of months in Boston — we think a really successful one.”