The once-busy border crossings between Canada and the United States are seeing a marked slowdown, as more Canadians are choosing to stay closer to home or seek out destinations beyond the U.S. New concerns about America’s political environment, stricter border checks, and the low Canadian dollar are driving this trend, signaling a major shift in North American tourism patterns.
Many Canadians say recent tariffs on Canadian goods were the tipping point, sparking frustration and resentment over what they see as unfair trade practices. Where cross-border trips and shopping excursions were once routine, families are now weighing the political and economic implications before booking travel to the United States.
The impact is already being felt by airlines and local economies. Major Canadian carriers such as Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter have started to redirect flights away from U.S. cities, adding more domestic routes and canceling underperforming U.S. connections. Flair Airlines stopped flying to Nashville, Air Canada and Air Transat have reduced their American services, and Sunwing has ended all U.S. flights entirely.
Porter Airlines’ chief commercial officer Edmond Eldebs explained, “Our goal is to fly where our customers want to travel, and this is a moment when Canada is at the top of many people’s list. We are adding routes and increasing flights in regions across the country to meet this demand.”
The changes are having a real effect on small U.S. border towns, which are seeing customer drops of up to 43 percent as fewer Canadians cross over to shop or dine. Popular vacation spots in Florida and other states are also feeling the loss, with rental agencies noting a wave of last-minute cancellations by Canadian tourists.
According to the U.S. Travel Association, Canadians are the largest group of international travelers to the U.S., spending $20.5 billion in 2024 and supporting 140,000 American jobs. Even a modest 10 percent reduction in Canadian tourism could eliminate 14,000 jobs and cost the U.S. economy $2.1 billion.
Industry experts warn this is not just a passing phase. Many Canadians are intentionally choosing destinations where they feel welcome and their spending power is appreciated. Melanie Fish of Expedia noted, “Canadian travelers are increasingly interested in summer travel to destinations like Europe, Japan, and sunny spots such as Mexico and the Dominican Republic.” Domestic travel is also booming, with Canadians opting to rediscover cities like Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and Toronto, along with trending spots such as Tofino, St. John’s, Nanaimo, and Gaspésie.
For a growing number of Canadians, this summer is about celebrating their own country, whether that means hiking the majestic Rockies in British Columbia or relaxing on Nova Scotia’s Atlantic coast. As political divisions and economic tensions continue, America may find itself missing its northern neighbors in more ways than one.
