Canadians have historically made up roughly a quarter of all international visitors to the United States. With all these new initiatives, they’re now in large numbers slashing their trips south of the border. This contraction has persisted for the last ten months in a row. Beyond showcasing a shift in travel culture, it shines a light on the historical animosity that lies between the two close countries. Despite Canadians spending over $20 billion (£15.1 billion) annually in the U.S., the ongoing decline in cross-border travel raises concerns for both nations’ economies.
Kristy Gammon, a current resident of Nova Scotia, is the perfect case in point. She intentionally made the decision to not pass through the U.S. on her trip to Ontario. This decision is the result of the deepening chill in Canada-U.S. relations in recent years. Most of her friends have gone so far as to sell their homes in Florida for good. They point to their disappointment with the state of U.S. politics as the catalyst for that.
Gammon expressed her sentiments candidly, stating, “For the last several months, our countries have been going through some things. There’s one thing we know and it’s this – we miss you.” Her poetic reflections make it tangible that the most deeply personal connections are impacted by profoundly dangerous and consequential geopolitical divides.
Loss of Canadian travelers have had serious impacts on the U.S. economy. The total overseas spending in the U.S. has experienced a 3.2% decrease, largely due to a decline in visitors from Canada. Air travel from Canada to the U.S. is down almost 24% compared with one year ago. At the same time, personal car travel has dropped even further—with a drop greater than 30 percent.
In reaction to this decline, some popular U.S. tourist hotspots are hoping to entice Canadian visitors to return. And Glacier National Park in Montana recently introduced a “Canadian Welcome Pass.” This pass gives significant discounts, deals, and special offers at neighboring businesses to attract Canadian travelers. These initiatives are a solid step toward recognizing the importance of Canadian tourists to the U.S. tourism economy.
Canada’s tourism sector is booming, hitting all-time high revenues of C$59 billion from May through August of 2025. This is a 6% increase from last year. This increase is due mainly to Canadians choosing to travel within Canada rather than going into the United States.
The new political climate has played a role in making Canadians gun-shy to head south. Canada is still smarting from having 35% tariffs slammed on its products. Sure, there are exemptions under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), but these tariffs are increasing bilateral relations’ friction. It’s clear that many Canadians share Gammon’s concerns. They are shocked, dismayed, or appalled at the manner in which the U.S. has conducted itself on the international scene and been treating its allies and friends.
Even with this uncertainty, there are reasons for cautious optimism about how people will travel in the future. Historic opportunities are just around the corner here in the U.S. — between the FIFA 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics. These attractions are more than capable of attracting visitors from across the globe, aiding in filling Canadian tourists’ absence. Gammon noted, “Who knows what could change between now and three years,” suggesting that evolving circumstances may alter travel dynamics.