Canada is the top country of origin for US inbound international visitors each year.
Tourism officials in several U.S. states worry fewer Canadians might visit their destinations in 2025, according to a recent article by the Boston Globe.
States with large proportions of visitors coming from Canada have expressed concern that Canadian visits could decline in 2025 following remarks by Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau during a February 1 press conference on tariffs. Changes in the U.S.-Canada trade relationship “might mean changing your summer vacation plans to stay here in Canada and explore the many national and provincial parks, historical sites, and tourist destinations our great country has to offer,” said Trudeau.
President Donald Trump implemented tariffs on Mexico and Canada that same day, but implementation of tariffs was also delayed until the end of February—a timeline that has nearly expired. Trump has said that a further delay to the tariffs wasn’t on the table this time.
Air Canada has announced it will reduce seat capacity to some U.S. leisure destinations. The Canadian flag carrier cited anticipating softening demand from Canadian travelers as part of their rationale for the cuts. The airline said it had not yet seen a material change in demand from Canadian travelers but is reducing flights ahead of forecasted declines. Air Canada flights to Florida, Arizona, and Las Vegas are impacted by the round of cuts.
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Canadians could also have reasons more pragmatic than tariff-related patriotism to take fewer trips to the U.S. this year. A strong U.S. dollar has reduced buying power for visitors paying in Canadian dollars, which have declined around 5% in value over the past year. Canadian fears that tariffs could negatively impact the country’s own economy could also be driving consumers north of the border to cut back on discretionary spending, like travel.
Travel Weekly reported that searches for flights from Canada to the U.S. dipped in early February compared with searches prior to the announcement of tariffs. The tour operator Globus also told Travel Weekly that bookings to U.S. destinations from Canada have slowed, and cancellations have increased, while bookings from Canada to Britain, Ireland, and continental Europe have remained steady.
Calgary-based WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, has not yet made cuts to transborder flying but has noticed demand for U.S. flights softening among Canadian travelers. WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech also cited foreign exchange concerns and said his airline is prepared to make adjustments to capacity if demand further drops.
The U.S. Travel Association (USTA), a national non-profit that advocates for the travel industry in the United States, warned in early February of the impact a decline in Canadian visitation could have on the U.S. economy. A 10% reduction in visitors from Canada could mean two million fewer visits, translating into a potential loss of $2.1 billion in spending, affecting 14,000 tourism and related jobs.
USTA further warned that the top states for Canadian visitation—Florida, California, Nevada, New York, and Texas could see a decline in retail and hospitality revenue if a significant number of travelers from Canada choose to skip U.S. trips this year. USTA noted that Canadians typically cite shopping as their top leisure activity during U.S. visits.
Canada is the top country of origin for U.S. inbound international visitors each year. The U.S. welcomed more than 20 million Canadian visitors in 2023—nearly half the population of the country. Ninety percent of the Canadian population lives within 100 miles of the U.S. border, and the majority of Canadian visitors cross a land border on foot or by car. Border states like Washington, Michigan, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire are popular destinations for Canadian shoppers.
The U.S. was by far the most visited country by Canadians. Just under 2 million Canadians visited Mexico in 2023. The United Kingdom, France, and Cuba rounded out the top five for Canadian travelers headed outside the country.
