In a notable shift in travel habits, Canadians reduced their spending on trips to the United States by $3.3 billion in 2025 compared to the previous year. This decline, amid ongoing political and trade tensions, saw expenditures fall from $22.1 billion in 2024 to $18.8 billion in 2025, as per official figures. Concurrently, Canadian spending on international travel outside the U.S. experienced an upswing, increasing by $3.6 billion to reach $22.8 billion.
The preference for destinations beyond the United States was evident, with travel to Europe rising by nearly 14% and visits to Asia seeing an almost 17% increase. These figures suggest that many Canadians opted for alternative international destinations over the U.S. during this period.
Additionally, border traffic between Canada and the U.S. saw a significant reduction throughout 2025. The number of return trips from the U.S. to Canada, whether by road or air, dropped by about 25% compared to the previous year. The most pronounced decline occurred in July, with a decrease of roughly one-third in border crossings.
As this trend extends into 2026, travel volumes to the United States remain lower than in previous years. Officials note that these statistics indicate a continued shift in Canadian travel behavior, marking a move away from the U.S. as a primary destination.