Key facts
- Canadian spending on travel to the US decreased by $3.3 billion in 2025.
- Total Canadian spending on US travel in 2025 was $18.8 billion.
- Canadian spending on travel to destinations other than the US increased by $3.6 billion in 2025.
- Visits to Europe and Asia by Canadians saw significant increases in 2025.
- Overall return trips from the US to Canada dropped by about 25% in 2025.
Canadian spending on travel to the United States decreased by $3.3 billion in 2025, a decline attributed to Donald Trump's "America First" policies and his administration's approach to Canada. The data from Statistics Canada indicates that Canadians are shifting their travel preferences away from the US, opting instead for international destinations.
Total spending by Canadians on travel to the US in 2025 amounted to $18.8 billion, a significant drop from $22.1 billion in 2024. In contrast, spending on travel to other international destinations grew by $3.6 billion, reaching $22.8 billion. Visits to Europe and Asia saw notable increases of nearly 14% and 17%, respectively.
The report highlights a substantial decrease in overall travel from the US to Canada, with return trips by vehicle and plane falling by approximately one quarter compared to the previous year. July 2025 recorded the sharpest decline, with border crossings down by about one-third. Statistics Canada described these sustained drops as the deepest on record since digital record-keeping began in 1972, with similar significant declines only seen after the 9/11 attacks.
Early data for 2026 suggests this trend is continuing, with return trips from the US to Canada remaining at levels similar to the end of 2025, which saw a 27% decrease in the final quarter. The agency concluded that this signals a persistent shift in travel preferences away from the United States by Canadian residents.