In a notable shift in travel patterns, Canadians reduced their spending on trips to the United States by $3.3 billion in 2025 compared to the previous year. This decline, from $22.1 billion in 2024 to $18.8 billion in 2025, reflects changing preferences amid ongoing political and trade tensions between the two countries.
While travel expenditures to the U.S. saw a significant drop, Canadian spending on international travel outside of the United States saw a substantial increase, rising by $3.6 billion to reach $22.8 billion. This shift was marked by a nearly 14% rise in travel to Europe and an almost 17% increase in visits to Asia, as Canadians opted for alternative international destinations over the U.S.
The trend of reduced U.S. travel was also evident in border traffic statistics throughout 2025. There was a steep decline of about 25% in return trips from the U.S. to Canada by both road and air compared to the previous year. July recorded the most significant decrease, with crossings dropping by roughly one-third.
As of 2026, this trend appears to be continuing, with Canadian travel volumes to the United States remaining well below previous levels. Officials highlight these figures as indicative of a sustained change in Canadian travel behavior away from the United States.