Buffalo Tourism Launches Campaign to Bring Back Canadians

by Marsha Mowers June 30, 2025

With overall travel from Canada to the US down in record numbers, Visit Buffalo Niagara, the tourism office for the city, is fighting back with a new campaign encouraging Canadians to come back to the city.

The new campaign “Buffalo Loves Canada,” is set to debut on Canada Day and features a logo with a buffalo, heart and maple leaf that will be displayed on billboards along the QEW – the main artery into the city. The campaign aims to welcome Canadian travellers and remind them of their “enduring connection” with their neighbours.

“This campaign is a reminder that Canadians are not only our visitors — they’re our friends, our neighbours, and part of the shared community that has defined life on both sides of the border for generations,” said Patrick Kaler, president and CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara.

“We cherish the memories we’ve made together and look forward to many more.”

Downtown Buffalo landmarks will be illuminated in red on Canada Day, in partnership with the City of Buffalo to mark our holiday. VBN is also running a $500 Visa gift card “Buffalo Loves Canada” giveaway for its Canadian neighbours that can be found at www.buffalolovescanada.com.

Visit Buffalo Niagara is also encouraging local businesses and residents to join in the celebration online by sharing the “Buffalo Loves Canada” graphic on social media on Canada Day alongside a message of support.

Land travel from Canada into Buffalo has long been a popular with Canadians who live close to the border, with many travellers seeking to shop, dine and visit family. Cross-border travel between Canada and the US via land has seen a significant decrease recently, with nearly one million fewer travellers at land borders in March 2025, the lowest since COVID. Crossings by passenger vehicles and pedestrians were down roughly 26%. Government data shows that Canadian-resident return trips by air continued to decline during the first five months of 2025, with year-over-year drops of 14% in April and 24.2% in May.