Hundreds of thousands of Canadians are now deciding to skip trips to the United States altogether. This trend has persisted almost ten full months after President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Political divisions, inflation, and shifts in desirability of places are all contributing factors to a changing travel landscape. The resulting drop in Canadian visitors to the U.S. has been quite pronounced.
In September, Canadians taking road trips across the border declined sharply. The hit was huge, down nearly a third from the same month last year. This large decrease is part of a larger pattern where Canadians are choosing to visit destinations beyond the U.S. Canadian visitors will spend an estimated US$3 billion while in California this year. This represents a drop from US$3.7 billion in 2024.
Between other generations, the forces baby boomers are driving this change. This winter, just 10 percent of baby boomers are set to go stateside, a two-thirds drop from prior winters. Conversely, for Gen Z respondents, the anticipated decrease in travel was less pronounced. Their plans to travel to the U.S. dropped by just 18 points, down to just 44 percent.
This deep-rooted preference for U.S. travel has long been a fixture of the Canadian travel market—with roughly 70 percent of Canadians traveling south overland. In September alone, under 1.8 million Canadians crossed back by land or air from the U.S. America is running on increasing hate, fear and loathing. This change is a result of political pressure in the wake of Trump’s tariffs and his infamous comments about Canada.
Experts point to the rising costs and negative currency exchange rates as a major reason for this cautious approach as well. The loonie The Canadian dollar is currently worth about 71 cents U.S. This skyrocketing exchange rate is putting serious strain on travel budgets for many Canadians. Barry Choi stated that “younger people … don’t necessarily have the budget to travel to farther places,” highlighting the financial constraints faced by some travelers.
Despite the overall dropoff, Canadians who visit or own property in the U.S. seem poised to keep coming as often. Between 30 and 40 percent of snowbirds maintain homes south of the border, prompting them to return despite broader trends. Stephen Fine noted that these individuals “are unlikely to leave their condo or their house empty for the winter.”
Canadians are shifting to more environmentally friendly travel preferences. In return, several states have prioritized promotional campaigns to lure them back to U.S. resorts and restaurants. For now, the efforts focus on the Canadian market. Yet, this community has become more and more reluctant to travel to the United States.
Will McAleer remarked on this trend, stating, “Canadians are really choosing destinations other than the U.S. to travel.” Canadians aren’t just enjoying the idea of “traveling softly.” This unexpected trend encourages a more discreet form of tourism that minimizes social media visibility.
The shift in travel behavior underscores a more profound cultural and political landscape shaping Canadian sentiments towards the United States. For most, though, there is a very real wariness based in the lived experiences of what has transpired and is still occurring.
Nathalie Morisseau expressed her concerns related to travel: “With my father being Haitian, there’s a certain fear around being able to go to the United States.” Her testimony strikes a chord with all of us who have fears that are rooted in the current political and social climate.
Catherine Paquin highlighted the business implications of these shifts, asserting that “business is business. We don’t have a choice.” This expression of frustration is indicative of the state of industries that are connected to an international tourism and hospitality sector that is dependent on Canadian visitors.
