Canadian Travelers Shift Away from the US
Canadians spent $3.3 billion less on travel to the United States in 2025 compared with the previous year, as tensions between the two countries continued to affect travel decisions, according to new government data.
The decline was linked to changing travel preferences following the return of US President Donald Trump and the introduction of policies focused on an “America First” approach, including trade measures and renewed comments about Canada.
“Following the change in the US administration in early 2025 and the implementation of America First policies, Canadian travel sentiment shifted abruptly,” researchers from Statistics Canada said in their report.
US Travel Spending Falls While Other Destinations Gain
Total Canadian travel spending in the United States dropped to $18.8 billion in 2025, down from $22.1 billion in 2024.
However, Canadians did not reduce international travel overall. Instead, many redirected spending toward other destinations, with travel outside the US increasing by $3.6 billion to reach $22.8 billion.
European destinations saw Canadian visits rise by nearly 14% compared with 2024, while travel to Asia increased by almost 17%, highlighting a broader shift in international travel patterns.
US Border Crossings See Historic Decline
Travel between Canada and the United States declined significantly throughout 2025. Return trips to Canada from the US by vehicle and air dropped by approximately 25% compared with the previous year.
The largest decline occurred in July 2025, when border crossings fell by roughly one-third compared with July 2024.
Statistics Canada described the decline as the deepest and most sustained on record. Since digital border tracking began in 1972, drops of more than 30% had only previously occurred in September 2001 following the September 11 attacks.
Travel Shift Continues Into 2026
The decline in Canadian leisure travel to the United States has continued into 2026, according to early data from Statistics Canada.
Return trips from the US remain at levels similar to late 2025, when travel declined by 27% between October and December.
The latest figures suggest a lasting change in Canadian travel behavior, with residents increasingly choosing destinations outside the United States.