Canadian travel to the United States has plunged, recording a seventh straight month of decline and flipping long-standing patterns in cross-border tourism.
In July 2025, only 2.6 million Canadians returned from visits south of the border, marking a steep 32.4 percent drop from July 2024, according to fresh data from Statistics Canada. It is the kind of reversal that would have seemed improbable just a few years ago: for only the second time since June 2006, and barring the pandemic’s peak, more Americans visited Canada than Canadians journeyed to the United States.
The trade war’s chill has seeped into vacation plans, with border complexities and shifting consumer priorities steering many away from U.S. destinations. That sentiment is reflected in the numbers as 35.8 percent fewer Canadians drove across the line compared to last July, and air travel fell by 16.2 percent. Meanwhile, U.S. residents made 3.3 million trips to Canada—a modest decline, but still outpacing Canadian visits southward.
Rather than packing for Florida or New York, more Canadians are opting to explore their own backyards or venture further overseas. Overseas travel by Canadians climbed 8.3 percent, even as total international trips dropped 24.2 percent. The tourism sector has noticed. The Tourism Industry Association of Canada described this summer’s shift as “a testament to the quality, diversity, and innovation of the experiences our industry provides.” The group also welcomed rising visits from Asia and Europe, which contributed to a 10.3 percent uptick in overseas arrivals to Canada in July.
Business owners on the ground echo that optimism. Jayne McCaw, owner of a Canadian cottage rental platform, noted that “the rise in Canadian staycations has more than offset” the dip in U.S. bookings. Not content to rest on this year’s gains, she added that long-term bookings for next summer are already triple last year’s numbers, suggesting the trend has legs.
As trade disputes shape travel choices and domestic tourism enjoys a rare moment in the spotlight, the industry is bracing for another year of shifting tides and new opportunities.
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Canadian travel to U.S. declines for 7th consecutive month amid trade war
