Canadian Travel to U.S. Continues to Decline Amid Rising Tensions and Tariffs

Canadian residents are continuing to curb their trips south of the border, with Statistics Canada reporting another significant decline in return visits from the United States in April. This marks the fourth straight month of sharp drops in cross-border travel by car, as mounting political tensions and economic pressures weigh heavily on Canadian travelers.

The latest figures show that only 1.2 million Canadians returned from the United States by automobile last month, a staggering 35.2 percent decrease compared to April 2024. The downturn is widely attributed to ongoing backlash over U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian products and his controversial rhetoric suggesting Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.

Air travel also saw a decline, though less severe. Statistics Canada noted that 582,700 Canadians flew back from the United States in April, reflecting a 19.9 percent drop year-over-year. The overall number of Canadian-resident return trips by air, however, showed only a slight dip of 1.7 percent, reaching 1.8 million. This was buoyed by a 9.9 percent increase in Canadians returning from overseas destinations, highlighting a shift in travel preferences away from the U.S.

The broader picture of international travel also showed weakness. The total number of arrivals in Canada—covering both residents and visitors, by air and car—stood at 4.5 million in April. That figure represents a 15.2 percent decline compared to the same period last year, underscoring the broader cooling of cross-border movement in the face of geopolitical strains.

With the ongoing tensions between Ottawa and Washington and uncertainties over trade relations, analysts suggest Canadian travel patterns could continue to shift toward Europe and other regions in the coming months. The drop in visits to the U.S. is not only a reflection of political discomfort but also a response to the rising costs associated with tariffs and a weaker Canadian dollar.