Continuing Canadian Travel Boycott Against the U.S. Amidst Growing Tensions

Fri Nov 14 2025 17:40:43 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As diplomatic relations fray due to trade disputes and tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, Canadian travelers are increasingly opting to boycott travel to the United States, significantly impacting U.S. tourism.

Canadians are actively choosing to forgo trips to the U.S. as a protest against the policies of President Trump. Data indicates a sharp decline in travel from Canada, with over 24% fewer flights and more than 30% fewer car trips recorded compared to last year. This boycott is driven by rising tensions between the two countries, particularly due to tariffs and controversial political comments. Canadian tourism has seen a boost as travelers prefer to explore domestic options instead.

Kristy 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 travelling to Baltimore, Maryland, for her husband's favourite Orioles baseball games.

But those trips are now over. This year, the Nova Scotia resident has avoided even passing through the US on her way to Ontario, a shortcut for an otherwise 18-hour drive.

Since President Trump took office earlier this year, the 62-year-old said she and most of her Canadian friends have decided to stop visiting the US as a way of protesting policies they oppose and trade actions Trump has taken against Canada.

There are so many things that we just feel aghast about in terms of how [the administration] is acting internationally, behaving toward their own citizens, and how they're treating their allies and neighbours, i.e. Canada, she said.

This growing trend shows no signs of slowing, with October marking the 10th consecutive month of decline in Canadian travellers to the US. Air travel from Canada to the US dropped nearly 24%, while car travel fell more than 30% compared to the same period last year, according to statistics from Canada's statistics office.

The US has seen a 3.2% drop in international spending, predominantly due to fewer visitors from Canada, as reported by the US Travel Association, a nonprofit representing the American travel industry.

As relations between the two countries grow colder, largely due to Trump's imposed tariffs, Canadians appear bent on giving their neighbours to the south the cold shoulder.

Canadians have historically made up about a quarter of all international visitors to the US, contributing over $20 billion annually. Travel began to decline sharply after Trump announced a series of tariffs on Canadian goods, motivating many Canadians to rethink their travel plans.

Trade talks were further complicated last month when Trump expressed his anger over an anti-tariff advertisement featuring Ronald Reagan, which was sponsored by Ontario.

US tourist destinations have attempted to lure back Canadian tourists with promotional offers. For instance, Kalispell, Montana, home to Glacier National Park, introduced a Canadian Welcome Pass offering deals for visitors from Canada, emphasizing, For the last several months, our countries have been going through some things. But there's one thing we know and it's this – we miss you.

Major forthcoming events in the US, including the FIFA 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, are expected to attract visitors from other regions, potentially offsetting the absence of Canadian tourists.

Meanwhile, Canada’s tourism sector has thrived, generating a record-breaking C$59 billion from May to August 2025, a 6% increase year-on-year. Many Canadians are opting to vacation closer to home, including snowbirds who traditionally visit the US in winter months. A recent survey found only 10% of Canadian baby boomers plan trips to the US this year, reflecting a 66% decrease from the previous year.

They've completely changed their snowbird plans, said Gammon. You can feel there's a shift. Despite her longing for US trips, she plans to continue her boycott for the foreseeable future unless significant changes occur in the US political landscape.