TORONTO (AP) – Visitors from overseas are coming to Canada in droves, but the influx won’t compensate for the cost of a proposed new travel document requirement that’s already keeping Americans away, a prominent tourism advocate warns.

New numbers indicate German visitors are enjoying the pristine wilderness of northern Ontario and the Yukon, while tourists from Asia are being drawn to the natural wonder of Niagara Falls. Urban centers like Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and St. John’s are also luring plenty of overseas travellers.

“All of those markets are seeing growth from Asia and Europe,” said Randy Williams, president of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.

While the increase in overseas visitors is good news, the drop in U.S. travelers could mean a $2-billion shortfall for the tourism industry in 2005.

“Four out of every five visitors to Canada are coming in through the United States,” said Williams.

Uncertainty over proposed U.S. regulations requiring citizens to produce a security card in order to return home is helping fuel that downward trend, said Williams.