US Travel Boycott Weakest In Montana Border Regions

This year, the talk up north has been loud. With all the political tension and cross-border grumbling, some Canadians have begun calling for a US travel boycott. It has received a lot of press, but the follow-through is mixed at best, according to the BBC. Some provinces are holding the line. Others are shrugging their shoulders and crossing over the border for a weekend shopping trip in Kalispell. That’s the case for Montana, which borders Alberta and Saskatchewan, the two provinces that did not exactly jump on the boycott train.

Alberta And Saskatchewan Are Outliers

According to TheTravel.com, the boycott is weakest where it might matter most to us in the West. US travel scene: Alberta and Saskatchewan will stick to the United States in 2026. Meaning, you’ll likely continue to see a lot of Canadian plates cruising the highway. These people already come here for skiing and Costco shopping, and rodeo, and whatever fast food chain they can’t find where they are. The number of Canadians visiting hasn't slowed much.

The Liquor Boycott Twist

Other than the travel drama, some provinces began removing American liquor from their store shelves. But here is the twist. Others snagged extra inventory to hoard, establishing bona fide stockpiles of bourbon and anything else with an American flag on the label. It is a confusing message. Boycott, but also not really. Depending on where you are, it seems like rather than punishing itself, Canada is also prepping for a long weekend at the same time.

What This Means For Montana

If the trend continues, one state that probably feels less of this than others would be Montana. Our nearest neighbors are not really on board right now. Alberta and Saskatchewan residents are already crossing the border in droves and will not be expected to cut back. It may be the oddball liquor laws that end up getting more play than the travel boycott itself. Until then, Montana is still open, and Canadians are still coming.