A conversation with Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser: “Canada isn’t just a visitor, it’s family”
By: Ilona Kauremszky
Long before Confederation stitched Canada together in 1867, French-speaking Acadians expelled from Acadie in the 18th century fled, many trekked south to the wetlands and bayous of Louisiana, where a new identity was born: Cajun.
Yet, this centuries-old connection between Louisiana and Canada runs deeper than language. It’s a cultural kinship of fiddle tunes and gumbo pots, of faith and resilience.
Resilience, after all, is a Louisiana hallmark. From hurricanes to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster — the worst oil spill in U.S. history—the state has been tested time and again. And yet, Canadians never turned away. During the Deepwater Horizon disaster, Canadian schoolchildren famously sent pennies in a box to help save Louisiana’s pelicans, particularly in Plaquemines Parish — the hardest-hit oil spill region — and Louisiana opened a fund to restore one of its pelican islands. “I still have the notes the (Canadian) kids wrote,” shares Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser with Travel Courier about the school kids’ efforts on his recent visit to Toronto.
That generosity, he adds, still matters. It forms the backbone of a friendship that is both historical and alive.
On a recent tour of Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City in September, Nungesser reaffirmed Louisiana’s bond with Canada to trade partners and travel advisors. His message was firm: despite politics or economic headwinds, Louisiana remains open, welcoming, and eager to see more Canadians.
And he had more to say in a Q&A with Travel Courier, so, read on:
Why does Louisiana place such importance on the Canadian market?
Canada has always stood by us. When disaster struck — whether Katrina or the oil spill — Canadians didn’t hesitate to help. That kind of friendship can’t be measured in visitor numbers alone. But from a tourism point of view, Canadians love Louisiana. They stay longer, they spend more, and they dive deeper into our culture. They’re not just here for Bourbon Street — they’re birding, fishing, enjoying small towns, exploring food trails. That’s why we keep saying: Canada isn’t just a visitor, it’s family.
How much of a dip in Canadian visitation has Louisiana seen under the current U.S. administration?
We’ve seen a conservative estimate of about 15% drop in Canadian visitation. It’s significant, but it’s not catastrophic—because of the long history of friendship and because Canadians still come. Still, 15% less means many fewer people experiencing our Cajun culture, our swamps and bayous, our food trails. That’s why we’re doubling down on outreach, and reminding everyone that the welcome mat is always out.
What’s new for Canadian travellers planning their next trip?
Oh, we’ve got plenty cooking — literally. We launched a hot sauce trail, because every table in Louisiana has at least one bottle. For birders, we’ve expanded our birding trail network, creating beautifully curated itineraries for birdwatchers. Along this trail, you’ll see huge flocks of shorebirds, herons, egrets, migratory warblers, and even rare species that stop in our coastal marshes and backwater swamps. These trails connect small towns, refuges, and natural reserves—each with a different flavour of wilderness.
For food lovers, we’ve got a national gumbo day coming that will put every grandma’s recipe to the test. This is our Year of Food, after all. We’re promoting local food trails beyond just New Orleans— gumbo, boudin, crawfish boils in Acadiana, Cajun seafood on the Gulf coast, hot sauce producers, and small craft kitchens.
And we’re looking to expand rail access, making it easier for visitors to get around. Mardi Gras Train (Amtrak’s line) was just recently inaugurated, which links parts of Mississippi and Alabama into Louisiana, enabling easier rail access to New Orleans and beyond. Canadians travelling by rail will find this an exciting new way to arrive: less stress, more scenery. And we’re working toward extensions: New Orleans to Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge to Shreveport, and farther afield, eventually making it a corridor that helps visitors move through the heart of Louisiana comfortably.
It’s all about giving travellers reasons to come back again and again.
What message are you bringing to Canadian travel advisors right now?
We want advisors to know they’ve got a partner in Louisiana. We’ve been investing in campaigns this year on the Year of Food and next year, it’s the Year of Outdoors. We even have a Mardi Gras float in the Rose Bowl Parade — and trust me, it’s a long way from New Orleans to Pasadena! But everything we do is to showcase the richness of our state. We want Canadian travel advisors to sell Louisiana with confidence, knowing their clients will feel welcome from the minute they arrive.
What’s Louisiana’s secret sauce?
It’s simple: we treat strangers like family. When you come here, you don’t just pass through — people invite you in, share food, stories, music. You leave with a friend. And once you’ve experienced that — the warmth, the food, the outdoors, the music — you come back again.
With his trademark mix of humour and sincerity, Billy Nungesser is Louisiana’s best ambassador. His message in Canada is clear: politics may shift and economies may change, but Louisiana’s bond with Canada is unshakable. Or, as Nungesser likes to say with a grin, “Come on down — we’ve got a seat at the table waiting for you.”
