In 2025, Canadians significantly reduced their travel spending in the United States, cutting back by $3.3 billion compared to 2024. Official data highlights this shift, with Canadian expenditures on U.S. travel dropping from $22.1 billion to $18.8 billion. This change reflects a broader trend of Canadians opting for other international destinations amid persistent political and trade tensions.
While spending on travel to the U.S. decreased, Canadians increased their expenditures on international trips outside North America by $3.6 billion in the same period, bringing the total to $22.8 billion. Notably, travel to Europe surged by nearly 14%, and visits to Asia grew by almost 17%. These figures suggest that Canadian travelers are increasingly choosing destinations beyond the United States for their vacations.
The decline in travel to the U.S. was also evident in border traffic, which saw a sharp decrease in 2025. The number of return trips from the U.S. to Canada, whether by road or air, fell by about 25% from the previous year. The most significant drop occurred in July, with border crossings plummeting by roughly one-third.
This trend of reduced travel to the United States has persisted into 2026, with volumes remaining substantially lower than previous years. Officials indicate that the data reflects a lasting change in Canadian travel patterns, as fewer Canadians are choosing the U.S. as their preferred travel destination.
