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, a change influenced by ongoing political and trade tensions. The expenditure on U.S. travel dropped from $22.1 billion in 2024 to $18.8 billion in 2025, according to official data. Meanwhile, Canadian spending on travel to international destinations outside the U.S. rose by $3.6 billion, reaching a total of $22.8 billion.
This change in travel behavior saw Canadians increasingly opting for other international destinations, with travel to Europe climbing nearly 14% and visits to Asia rising by almost 17%. These figures underscore a growing preference among Canadians for alternative destinations over their neighbor to the south.
The decline in travel to the U.S. was also reflected in border traffic, which saw a sharp decrease throughout 2025. Return trips from the U.S. to Canada by both road and air fell by about 25% compared to the previous year. July experienced the most significant drop, with crossings down by roughly one-third.
This trend has persisted into 2026, as travel volumes to the United States remain well below prior levels. Officials have noted that the data indicates a sustained change in Canadian travel behavior, moving away from the U.S. as a primary travel destination.