Officials at Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island are preparing for a busy tourist season despite concerns over cross-border travellers.
"It's still really uncertain at this juncture. Our tourism season really kind of starts on Victoria Day weekend and then lasts through the summer season," said CEO Gordon Orr. "What we are hearing is that a lot of people are still purchasing, which is good. As long as the economy stays strong and people keep purchasing, we know that this might end up being a pretty good season for us."
Orr said around 1.7 million visitors from the United States visit the region each year, and 300,000 stay overnight.
The 2025 Windsor Essex Pelee Island tourism guide is officially out and available at the 11th annual Staycation Expo at Devonshire Mall Friday and Saturday.
"There's a real spirit of supporting Canadians, and this vacation expo is coming at the perfect time, so is the launch of our visitor guide. It's hyper local, it's supporting local businesses, it's reminding everyone that when you support local, it helps to support a workforce of 11,000 here regionally," said Orr.
The expo encourages locals to explore their own backyard and take in local experiences.