Canadian travel to the U.S. dropped sharply in June, with air and car trips declining due to safety concerns and political unrest, data shows.
Canadian Visits to U.S. See Sharpest Decline in 2025
Canadian travel to the United States continues its sharp downturn, as June data from Statistics Canada shows a deepening drop in cross-border tourism and business travel. The ongoing decline follows a trend observed throughout 2025, amid rising political friction and security concerns.
Latest Data Shows Double-Digit Declines
According to Statistics Canada, Canadian air travelers returning from the U.S. in June 2025 fell by over 22% year-over-year, even as return trips from other international destinations rose more than 7%. Car travel fared worse: cross-border road trips dropped 33%, marking the sixth consecutive month of decline. The data underscores a widening gap in Canadians’ travel preferences, as many are actively avoiding their southern neighbour.
Political Friction Fuels Boycott
The slump is widely attributed to growing discontent among Canadians over U.S. politics and rhetoric. President Trump’s controversial remarks suggesting Canada should “consider statehood” and proposed tariff escalations have fueled public backlash. A recent FlightHub survey of 1,529 Canadian adults found that 40% are avoiding U.S. travel due to safety and political tensions, while 36% view travel abstention as a form of protest.
This sentiment appears to be reshaping not just leisure travel but broader consumer behaviour. “Many Canadians are making deliberate choices to redirect their tourism spending elsewhere,” said Emily Branton, a travel analyst based in Vancouver.
Business Travel Impacted, But Not Equally
While the Canadian drop is severe, global business travel to the U.S. is showing mixed patterns. According to preliminary figures from the U.S. International Trade Administration, business-related entries—excluding those from Canada and Mexico—fell by 1.2% in June compared to the same period in 2024.
Mexico also saw a 10.7% year-over-year drop in business visitors to the U.S. in June, excluding land travel. However, year-to-date figures suggest some resilience globally: business travelers from Asia rose by 5.5%, South America by 4.5%, and Western Europe by 1.1% through the first half of 2025.
Domestic Shifts in Canadian Tourism
As cross-border travel dwindles, Canadian tourism is pivoting inward. Domestic destinations like British Columbia, Quebec, and Newfoundland have reported increased interprovincial travel. Industry leaders see this as both an economic opportunity and a signal of changing long-term preferences.
“While the political landscape in the U.S. remains volatile, Canada’s tourism sector has a chance to flourish domestically,” noted Sandra Cheema, director of the Canadian Tourism Association.
Outlook: No Immediate Rebound Expected
With the U.S. presidential election cycle heating up and no clear resolution in sight to cross-border tensions, analysts forecast the downward trend to persist through the remainder of 2025. Many Canadians, it seems, are opting to stay home—or head elsewhere.
“Until trust is restored, the U.S. will continue to lose ground as a travel destination for Canadians,” said Branton.
Source:
Statistics Canada, U.S. International Trade Administration, FlightHub Survey
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