Declining Canadian Travel to the US: A Boycott in Progress

Fri Nov 14 2025 18:23:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Canadians are increasingly choosing to boycott travel to the US as a response to political tensions and tariffs introduced by the Trump administration. This trend marks a significant dip in cross-border travel, raising concerns for the US economy.

Travel from Canada to the US has seen a decline for several consecutive months, with more Canadians opting to avoid the US as a protest against policies from the Trump administration. Factors include tariffs and contentious political relations, leading to a shift in travel patterns and a significant impact on the US tourism industry.

Kirsty Gammon used to travel to the US from Canada at least once every other year, taking ski trips at Lake Placid in New York and attending Baltimore Orioles baseball games. However, this year, she has avoided even passing through the US on her journeys. Like many Canadians, she has decided to stop visiting the US as a form of protest against the policies of the Trump administration.

October marked the 10th straight month of decline in the number of Canadian travelers going to the US. According to data released by Canada’s statistics office, air travel from Canada to the US has dropped nearly 24%, while car travel tumbled over 30%. The overall impact is reflected in a 3.2% decrease in international spending in the US, predominantly driven by fewer arrivals from Canada.

The introduction of tariffs by the Trump administration has fueled this decline, prompting many Canadians to forego trips south of the border. Canadians, who traditionally account for about a quarter of all international visitors to the US, have contributed to a loss of over $20 billion a year in tourism spending.

Efforts to win back Canadian tourists have seen some US destinations, like Kalispell, Montana, offering Canadian Welcome Passes to entice visitors back. Despite these measures, the chilly relations between the two neighboring countries continue to discourage travel.

The rising trend of Canadian travelers sticking to their homegrown tourism options hints at a long-term shift. From May to August 2025, Canada’s tourism economy hit record highs, gaining C$59 billion, buoyed by domestic travel, especially among snowbirds who traditionally flock to warmer US states in winter.

As long as these political tensions persist, it's likely that more Canadians, including Gammon and her friends, will commit to boycotting US travel, reflecting the broader sentiments of dissatisfaction with the current situation.