Last year, I wrote about how the current administration’s trade and immigration policies are increasingly having a negative impact on international travel to the US, with some European countries showing dwindling numbers pertaining to travel to the U.S. However, Canadians seem to have also joined the fray, with recent survey numbers pointing a decline, owing to political, trade and immigration related uncertainty in the U.S.
Are Canadians Doing a Soft Travel Boycott?
This report cited by Forbes shows that February was the 13th consecutive month recording declining inbound numbers of travelers to the U.S from their northern neighbors.
- The most common way in which Canadians planned their travel to the U.S was by road. That number dropped by 15% in February. Moreover, the month saw a massive 32% drop compared to last year.
- The number of air travelers from Canada to the U.S also fell by 18% year over year. However, the number of Americans visiting Canada was up by 6% during the same time period.
As per the survey by Longwoods International, Canadians are boycotting travel to the U.S and choosing other destinations instead.
“Tourism boycotts do come up over one issue or another, but in my 37 years in the travel industry, I have never seen anything like what the Canadians have pulled off,” Amir Eylon, President and CEO of Longwoods International, told Forbes. “This is one that’s being felt and it’s not going away quickly.”
So, why are Canadians boycotting travel to the U.S? The survey cites many reasons, with primary reasons being U.S government policies, trade practices and political statements made by U.S leaders.
In the Longwoods survey, roughly six in 10 Canadians (59%) report U.S. government policies, trade practices and political statements have made them less likely to travel to the U.S. in the next 12 months. That’s up six points since October. And of those Canadians whose travel preferences have been influenced by U.S. policies, about three-quarters (73%) said that both tariffs and statements by U.S. political leaders were the primary negative influences on their travel plans. “Political disputes between the U.S. and Canada continue to be a headwind for Canadian visitation to the U.S.,” Eylon said, adding that Canadian perceptions of the safety in the U.S. has “steadily declined during the last ten months.”
The Pundit’s Mantra
Canadian visitors, over the years, have been a significant source of revenue for U.S businesses, showing consistent inbound travel demand to the U.S. However, that has faded after 2025, as Canadians are choosing other destinations. This in turn is having a negative impact on U.S based businesses that are depending on inbound tourism from Canada.
The U.S. Travel Association (USTA) warned early in 2025 that even a 10% reduction in Canadian inbound travel could translate to $2.1 billion in lost spending and 140,000 lost jobs in the hospitality sector. The actual decline was 22%—more than double that hypothetical drop. Based on the $20.5 billion Canadian tourists spent in the U.S. in 2024, last year’s 22% decline in visitation indicates an economic hit of roughly $4.5 billion. The drop has bled into 2026, with double-digit declines in both January and February, on top of last year’s slide.
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Sorry stogieguy7 – have to call you out on your idiotic comments. Many Canadians (including myself) have chosen to spend our travel dollars elsewhere … just as you can spend your dollars as you please. Our GDP per capita ranks above the UK , France and Japan and is just behind Germany (and we actually have social services and don’t have to be worried about being unlawfully detained or shot in the street). Our population is larger than every single US state. And if you don’t think our tourist dollars matter, why are Las Vegas resorts, Disney resorts (and others) offering huge incentives for Canadians to come back? We have also experienced a huge uptick in travel from Europe from travelers who don’t want to go the US either. As for Florida, the real estate market is hurting because of all the Canadians who are getting rid of their vacation homes and others who have dropped plans to buy. Real estate values have dropped close to 10% year over year. The vast majority of Americans are great people and Canadians have no problem with them (you I am not so sure about). But we are just fine pulling back a bit right now until you can figure things out.
I find stogieguy7’s last comment interesting. “… thanks to their hostility.” I don’t find them hostile – rather individuals doing what each person can to counteract the overt hostility from the current administration.
Canada’s population is less than the size of some of our individual states. Furthermore, their per capita income is significantly lower than that of other first world nations. Their dollar is worth significantly less than the USD, which makes the USA an expensive destination for them. So, although their little “elbows up” tantrum may have to do with politics, it also works for those who can no longer afford a week in California or Florida. Also, considering the size of the population, these allegedly catastrophic tourist dollar losses are vastly overestimated. Fact is, the loss of Canadians to places like Florida is hardly noticable. Go there and you’ll see it’s pretty much at capacity without them.
Canadians are their own worst enemies. Nor will as many Americans travel up there, thanks to their hostility.
Someone didn’t do their research before commenting. Canada population 42 million. California population 39 million. Texas population 30 million. Dollar “worth less” Just because 1 USD = 1.36 CAD. The number doesn’t mean anything. By that logic, the US Dollar is worth less vs. the Euro at 1 EURO = 1.16 USD.
Florida is being impacted – Disney World now has to offer 25%+ discounts to Canadian residents.