Why Canadians Are Turning Their Backs on U.S. Travel in 2025
Hey everyone, I want to talk about something that’s really making waves this year — and it’s all about travel, or rather, the lack of it. Canadians are pulling back hard from visiting the United States, and honestly, the reasons behind it are pretty intense.
So here's the story. A growing number of Canadians are just saying, "No thanks" to crossing the border into the U.S., and it's not just a blip — it's a real trend. In March 2025 alone, the number of Canadians driving back from the States dropped a whopping 32% compared to last year. That’s 1.5 million fewer trips, and it’s now the third month in a row we’ve seen this kind of decline.
A big part of this shift? Well, it’s political. U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited trade tensions, slapping tariffs on Canadian goods and throwing around some pretty sharp words about Canada. That’s not sitting well with people, and it’s reflected in how they’re choosing to spend their vacation dollars.
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But it’s more than just pride or politics — there’s also fear and frustration. We’ve seen stories of Canadians and other international travelers being detained at U.S. borders, searched aggressively, even having their electronic devices scrutinized. For many, the idea of being treated like a suspect just for going on vacation isn't worth the hassle.
And the economic impact? It's already being felt. Canadians spent about $30 billion on U.S. travel in 2023 — that’s huge. Even a 10% drop in that spending could cost the American travel sector around 14,000 jobs. Air Canada is already trimming flights to U.S. destinations, and other airlines are rerouting to places like Mexico and the Caribbean instead. Tourism agencies in the U.S. are starting to panic, sending reps to Canada to try and win us back.
Meanwhile, back home, there’s a surge in domestic tourism. Canadians are choosing to support Canadian businesses and travel within the country. In fact, there’s been a 19% increase in intentions to travel domestically. That’s a pretty significant shift in behavior, driven by both a sense of patriotism and practicality.
Honestly, it’s kind of inspiring to see how united Canadians can be when it comes to standing up for what we believe in — whether that’s pushing back against unfair policies or simply deciding that our travel money is better spent right here at home.
So, if you’re thinking about travel this year and weighing your options, just know — you’re not alone in rethinking that trip down south. The message is clear: if respect isn’t being shown across the border, then maybe it’s time we keep exploring our own backyard.
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