08:16 AM EDT, 06/18/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The summer tourism season is here, and 58% of small Canadian business owners are concerned the trade dispute with the United States will be disruptive, said the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) on Wednesday.

Key highlights from new CFIB research:

-- 37% of those surveyed noticed changes in tourists' behavior, including seeing growing interest from Canadian travelers and visitors choosing more affordable options for goods or services.

-- Among Canadians who have finalized their travel plans or have yet to do so, 56% plan to travel within their province, 51% elsewhere in Canada, and only 11% are travelling or looking to travel to the U.S. this summer.

As tourism operators count on summer revenues to get ahead of their debt and high costs, CFIB urges all three levels of government to reduce permit and licensing requirements while actively promoting buying local and travelling within and to Canada.

"The tourism sector is one of the largest employers in Canada, and most tourism operators are small businesses," said Kalith Nanayakkara, CFIB's senior policy analyst for British Columbia. "Governments and Canadians have a significant role in strengthening our economy and supporting independent local businesses."