Canadians spent $3.3bn less on travel to US in 2025 after Trump’s return to office

New data from Statistics Canada reveals a significant decline in Canadian travel spending to the United States in 2025, attributed to Donald Trump's return to the presidency and the subsequent implementation of "America First" policies. According to the research, Canadians spent $3.3 billion less on travel to the US in 2025 compared to the previous year, with total spending amounting to $18.8 billion.

The data suggests that Canadians are not reducing their overall travel spending, but rather opting for alternative international destinations. In fact, total Canadian spending on travel abroad, excluding the US, increased by $3.6 billion in 2025. Notably, visits to Europe and Asia saw significant growth, with nearly a 14% increase in Canadian visits to Europe and almost a 17% increase in visits to Asia.

In contrast, US-bound travel by Canadians plummeted in 2025, with return trips to Canada from the US by vehicle and plane dropping by approximately one quarter compared to 2024. The decline was most pronounced in July 2025, with border crossings falling by about one-third. This marked the deepest and most sustained decline on record, surpassing even the 2001 post-9/11 slump.

The trend appears to be continuing in 2026, with Statistics Canada reporting that leisure travel to the US is continuing to decline. According to the agency, return trips to Canada from the US this year are at similar levels seen at the end of 2025, signaling a persistent shift away from the United States in Canadian travel preferences.