Canadians rethink U.S. travel plans amid rising tensions: survey

Combined, these findings indicate that over 65% of respondents have made a conscious decision to avoid travel to the United States in 2025.

This aligns with wider industry data that points to a steep drop in U.S.-bound travel from Canada. According to a report cited by CityNews Calgary, "bookings by Canadian travellers for U.S. Airbnb accommodations were down 12.1% in March 2025 compared with the same month last year."

A mix of politics, prices and priorities behind the trend

The downturn in U.S. travel isn’t just a matter of preference; it’s being driven by a mix of political and economic factors.

“We are seeing this as a widespread movement,” Beth Potter, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, told CityNews. “Canadians are making travel decisions based on personal beliefs and political developments.”

The weakening Canadian dollar, which currently sits around 70 cents U.S., is also playing a major role. As Potter noted, the cost of American travel is rising for Canadians, pushing many to choose other destinations or stay closer to home.

Meanwhile, Statistics Canada data showed a 23% year-over-year drop in the number of Canadians driving across the border in February, and airline bookings between Canada and the U.S. are reportedly down more than 70% for the spring and summer.

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Domestic tourism could benefit as Americans head north

While fewer Canadians are heading south, the domestic tourism sector may get a boost from travellers deciding to vacation at home, and from American tourists taking advantage of the exchange rate.

“Because of the drop in the Canadian dollar, we are going to see more American visitation to Canada,” Potter told CityNews.

With inflation and global instability influencing how people spend, the travel decisions Canadians are making in 2025 appear to reflect deeper economic caution and a growing awareness of geopolitical dynamics. The sharp pullback from U.S. destinations may be part of a longer-term shift in where and why Canadians choose to travel.

Sources

1. CityNews Calgary: Fewer people are travelling to Canada: StatCan (April 23, 2025)