Campobello saw a great reduction in the number of tourists from the United States this season, and most of the attractions, lodgings and other businesses saw a concomitant reduction in the level of business.

A number of factors were cited for the drop in cross-border visitors, with Tori Cunningham of the Campobello Tourism Association describing it as "the perfect storm. Tourism was generally low this summer, caused by a lot of factors. The Canadian dollar was too strong compared to the American dollar, with no real incentive for Americans to travel here for lower prices. People were told they needed passports, and the cost of passports does not bode well for families. Gifts are a luxury and are now out of style, as people simply do not have funds with the high prices of heating fuel and gas. Ferry traffic was down, although it picked up in August. I live on the cross roads and there was less traffic; we saw few bus tours. It picked up a bit in August, but if it doesn't pick up in August, we might just as well close the bridge. No one can live on one or two weeks in August for the whole year."

Anne Newman, cultural resource and interpretation manager at the Roosevelt Campobello International Park, says, "Our attendance was down 10 to 15% from last year, due to people's misconception they need a passport to visit island and due to higher gas prices." A representative of the Herring Cove Provincial Park, the other large attraction on the island, comments, "We are seeing more local campers from New Brunswick C Fredericton and Saint John. A lot of people seem to be staying closer to home with gas prices so high. Camp site [rentals] are down 300 from last year, and the number of campers is down quite a bit. We think the price of gas and the delays at the U.S. border have meant less tourism. At the golf course, memberships are way down, and golf play is down this year as well."

However, Rydell Flynn of Capt. Riddle's Whale Watch says, "This has been our best summer in seven years." He has seen fewer American tourists "due to gas prices and people thinking they needed a passport, but we had a lot of Canadian tourists exploring their 'own backyard.'"

Mary Helen Robichaud of the Lupine Lodge also saw "more locals from Campobello than usual at the restaurant, and that really helped. Early summer was slow, but it was fairly steady all summer. Rooms numbers were down, but people were staying longer. Groups of couples, two to three couples and sometimes four to five couples were traveling together; we were seeing this more than before. Many tourists said they would be returning to the island in future years."

Gordon Phillips of the Campobello Gift House says they had "a terrible summer, the worst in 26 years. We saw about 75% less U.S. tourists." He blames "the much higher exchange rate for Canadian versus American dollars, as well as high gas prices and people worrying about buying oil in the winter. Also, lots of people thought you needed a passport to re-enter U.S. We haven't seen as many tour buses due to the problem at the U.S. border if one person does not have correct papers. Tours owners are skipping the island as people do not want to deal with the delays at the border."

One solution Tori Cunningham of the Campobello Tourism Association suggests is for more cooperation with Maine. "Tourism and fishing on Campobello C both are not at their peak, and the Canadian government realizes Campobello is in a slump. My idea is we must work more closely with Washington County, as together we are the most beautiful place in the Maritimes." With success in the cross-border lighthouse event called Lights Across the Border Lighthouse Challenge and the Two Countries/One Bay Art Studio Tour this year, cooperation could bring greater results than both trying to go it alone in the difficult economic times that both areas are feeling.