Interest in traveling to the United States has significantly declined among Canadians, driven by a combination of factors, including tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, a weakening Canadian dollar, and political tensions. According to Flight Centre Canada spokesperson Amra Durakovic, interest in U.S. travel began to drop in November 2024, with a sharp 40% year-over-year decrease in leisure travel bookings to the U.S. by February 2025.
Durakovic attributes part of the downturn to the tariffs announced by the U.S. administration in early February, as well as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent advice to Canadians to avoid traveling to the U.S. Travel Best Bet president Claire Newell noted that many Canadians, proud of their country, are frustrated with the political climate and do not wish to spend their money in the U.S. under the current circumstances.
This shift in travel behavior is not limited to air travel. Data from Cascade Gateway, which tracks border wait times, revealed a 30% decrease in southbound travel at Surrey’s Peace Arch border crossing in February 2025 compared to the previous year. The decline in travel coincided with the Canadian government’s implementation of a new surtax on goods brought back into the country from the U.S.
As a result, many Canadians are seeking alternative vacation destinations, increasingly looking further afield for travel options beyond the U.S.
