THE FUSE

In recent years, one in four visitors to the US has been Canadian. But with so many boycotting US holidays, here's where they're heading instead.

In response to US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods – and his suggestions that Canada should become the US's 51st state – many Canadians have embraced the nation's unofficial "elbows up" motto, a hockey term that implies punishing the opposition. A growing number have cancelled upcoming trips to the US, and as Canadians' boycott of US travel extends into its 12th straight month, the trend sees no signs of slowing.

For years, Canadians have been the biggest source of international visitors to the US, making up 28% of foreign tourists in 2024. But that figure has dropped dramatically since January 2025. According to the US Travel Association (USTA), inbound Canadian travel to the US is down 23% year-to-date (Jan-Oct), which equates to an estimated $4bn (£3bn) loss compared to the previous year. The organisation says roughly four million fewer Canadians have visited the US so far this year.

But Canadians are travelling more overall. That begs the question: where are they going instead?

Many, like travel writer and content creator Emilie Brillon, say they have decided to follow national calls – including from former prime minister Justin Trudeau – to support Canada and explore more of their own country.

"I used to cover road trips across both Canada and the US," said Brillon. "But last March I made a conscious shift to focus solely on Canada. We even cancelled a planned family trip to the Grand Canyon in April 2025 and chose to redirect that budget into the Canadian economy instead."

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Toronto-based publicist Tracy Lamourie says she used to travel to the US regularly but was blunt about her plans moving forward: "[I'm] never crossing the border again," she said. "[I] switched to Europe for travel and Zoom for meetings. [Between the] 51st state rhetoric and human rights abuses – while it never seemed safe – now it's on the no-go list."

Lamourie's stance reflects a broader sentiment, as many international travellers have been rethinking their US travel plans this year – a trend that the USTA estimates will cost the US $5.7bn (£4.28bn).

According to Statistics Canada, the country's central statistical agency, domestic travel within Canada has surged in 2025, alongside increased Canadian travel to Mexico, Portugal, the Bahamas and Belize. The agency reports a nearly 12% rise in Canadian visitors to Mexican cities year to date. Data also shows that Canadian spending in destinations like Buenos Aires, Osaka, Copenhagen and Curacao was up more than 100% this summer compared to 2024.

Islands in the Caribbean have seen record numbers of Canadians this year (Credit: Alamy)

Meanwhile, US destinations that typically rely on Canadian tourism are feeling the impact. Between January and July, 30% fewer Canadians crossed the border into Vermont compared to the same period in 2024. Las Vegas has seen an 18% year-to-date decline, and places like Ft Lauderdale, Upstate New York and many other regions are experiencing similar downturns.

An increase in flight connectivity to Europe and the Caribbean is making it easier for Canadians to bypass the US. "From Canada to Berlin, Ponta Delgada, Nantes and Brussels, we are strategically increasing new non-stop routes across Europe to bring convenient access to key destinations, while strengthening economic ties and supporting tourism," Air Canada executive vice president and chief commercial officer Mark Galardo said in a statement.

From 4-20 December, the airline is also launching 13 new routes to the Caribbean, Central America and South America – a move that is likely aimed at Canadian "snowbirds" who previously relied on US states like Florida or California for winter sun.

Just how long Canadians will continue to avoid travel to the US is uncertain. But Brillon believes the shift could reshape Canadian travel patterns for years to come.

"I think the real opportunity is encouraging Canadians to explore lesser-known regions [of our own country], for example visiting the Kootenays instead of Banff," she said. "From what I'm seeing, this doesn't feel like a short-term thing; it's starting to look like a longer-term shift in how Canadians choose to travel."

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