Even in tough financial times, the region's proximity to Canada and a strong Canadian dollar have led to increases in Canadian spending locally.

Joan LaPier, marketing director at Champlain Centre, said the mall tracks Canadian business through traffic counts. Those numbers continue to rise steadily, as they have since 2005. In 2006, the traffic count increased almost 400 percent, followed by a 50 percent increase in 2007 and a 27 percent increase so far this year.

Those numbers are expected to increase dramatically next month, when Target opens Sunday, Oct. 12. That coincides with Canadian Thanksgiving, which is Oct. 13.

Mall staff are taking calls and receiving e-mails every day from Canadians who want to know when the store will open.

"I ran into a (Montreal) woman who was shopping at Christopher Banks," LaPier said. "She told me, You do know all of Canada is aware Target is coming.'"

The proximity to the border can help in uncertain economic times, such as the current financial crisis, she said.

"I think we're in the right place at the right time," LaPier said.

She receives e-mails from Canadian shoppers who say they're coming for the weekend, rather than a day.

"It means they're booking hotels and eating in our restaurants," LaPier said. "It's good for the whole area."

Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce Vice President - Marketing Michele Powers said it's a growing trend.

"Canadians have always been day-trippers. It looks like they're coming more often and staying longer," she said.

Car counts at the Champlain border crossing are up about 4 percent, about 80,000 visitors. Bus counts are also up, Powers said, and more of those buses are full.

The chamber continues to market the region and the airport to a Montreal audience, including at the upcoming International Tourism and Travel Show in October, the Montreal Home and Trends Show and Golf Expo Montreal, both in March and the Montreal Outdoor Festival, which will be a first for the chamber.

"I think that will be a great show for us," Powers said.

The chamber's new travel guide will be bi-lingual for the first time. Powers said that is very appreciated by French-Canadians.