Published on: December 28, 2025, 08:08h.

Updated on: December 28, 2025, 08:08h.

• StatsCan report indicates Canadians are still avoiding U.S. travel.
• Trend has persisted for over a year, stemming from U.S.-Canada trade tensions and remarks by U.S. President Trump.
• A November Flight Centre survey reveals that 62% of Canadians are less inclined to visit the U.S. in 2026.

Travel by Canadians to the U.S. has significantly declined, as per the latest data from Statistics Canada. This decline has been evident for nearly a year, coinciding with the onset of trade conflicts and controversial statements by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Canada’s status.

This ongoing frustration is evident among Canadian travelers. Statistics Canada reports a 26.3% decrease in the number of return trips from the U.S. in October, totaling 2.3 million trips.

Conversely, U.S. visits to Canada increased by 3%, with 1.8 million visits—accounting for 76.8% of all non-resident travel to Canada—ending an eight-month streak of declines.

Over 26% Decline in October

Notably, the 2.3 million trips constituted 70.1% of all international travel undertaken by Canadian residents during that month.

In October, air travel by Canadian residents returning from the U.S. saw a reduction of 15.1% (approximately 685,100 trips). Meanwhile, car trips by Canadian residents from the U.S. decreased by 30.2%, reaching 1.6 million, with 67.5% of these being same-day trips.

Interestingly, Canadians are expanding their travels to other global destinations such as Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and other regions in the Americas, with a 9.1% increase in overseas travel reported by StatsCan in October.

Gloomy Outlook for 2026

A study by Angus Reid published in November indicates that 70% of Canadians are apprehensive about traveling to the U.S. this winter. Additionally, 65% of respondents find the new border measures for long-term visitors, including fingerprinting and a $60 registration fee, to be “intrusive.”

A significant 77% of Canadians perceive the U.S. as a less appealing travel destination this year compared to previous years.

A Flight Centre survey of over 1,000 adult Canadians regarding their travel plans for 2026 found that 62% expressed decreased interest in traveling to the U.S. compared to past years. This survey was conducted in November.