Key facts
- Canadian residents' trips to the US fell 10.6% in the first three months of 2026.
- Overall Canadian trips to the US declined 25.4% in 2025 compared to 2024.
- This decline represents the deepest and most sustained non-pandemic drop on record, with 11 consecutive months of year-over-year decreases.
- Renewed trade tensions and escalating tariffs between the US and Canada are contributing to the sustained pullback.
- Canadian spending on US trips decreased by $3.3 billion in 2025, with leisure travel experiencing the largest drop.
Canadians have significantly reduced their travel to the United States, with a 25.4% decrease in trips in 2025 compared to the previous year, marking the longest sustained non-pandemic decline on record. This trend has continued into early 2026, with a further 10.6% drop in trips to the US during the first quarter.
Statistics Canada's National Travel Survey indicates that border crossings remain at late-2025 levels, suggesting a "persistent shift" away from US destinations. This pullback began after President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico in early 2025, sparking calls for boycotts. The trade dispute has since intensified, with new US tariffs on Canadian imports and Canada's planned retaliatory measures.
Experts like Rachel J.C. Fu from the University of Florida suggest that the current numbers point to a broader change in Canadian travel sentiment and habits, rather than a temporary reaction to political events. Flight Center Travel Group Canada data shows that while US leisure bookings have improved from their 2025 lows, they remain below pre-pullback levels.
The shift in travel patterns could have significant economic consequences for US tourism businesses, particularly in border communities and popular vacation spots. Canadian spending on US trips fell by $3.3 billion in 2025, with leisure travel accounting for the majority of this decline. As Canadians explore alternative destinations, US tourism operators face the challenge of competing for their return.