In 2025, Canadian travelers significantly reduced their expenditure on trips to the United States, spending $3.3 billion less than they did the previous year. This decline reflects a notable change in travel patterns, likely influenced by ongoing political and trade disputes. Official figures reveal that Canadian spending on U.S. travel dropped from $22.1 billion in 2024 to $18.8 billion in 2025.
As spending on U.S. travel decreased, Canadians redirected their travel budgets to other international destinations. Canadian expenditure on travel outside the United States rose by $3.6 billion, reaching a total of $22.8 billion. This shift was evident in the 14% increase in travel to Europe and a nearly 17% rise in visits to Asia, indicating a growing preference for alternative international experiences over trips to the U.S.
Accompanying the reduction in spending was a marked decline in border traffic between the two countries. In 2025, the number of return trips from the U.S. to Canada by both road and air fell by about 25% compared to 2024. The most significant drop occurred in July, with border crossings plummeting by approximately one-third, underscoring the decreased interest in U.S. travel among Canadians.
This downward trend in travel volumes to the United States has persisted into 2026, with numbers still lagging behind those recorded in previous years. Officials attribute this ongoing decline to a sustained shift in Canadian travel behavior, suggesting a long-term move away from traditional U.S. destinations in favor of exploring other parts of the world.