Canadian return trips from U.S. tank nearly 30% in October: StatCan
Canadian residents continued to take fewer trips to the United States in October, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada.
globalnews.caHere’s what’s noteworthy right now regarding Canadians avoiding U.S. travel.
Latest landscape
- Canadian travel to the United States has remained on a downward trajectory into 2025 and 2026, with multiple reports indicating sustained declines in both air and land travel compared with prior years. This includes data showing ongoing year-over-year drops in Canadian trips to the U.S. and in U.S.-bound air and land passengers from Canada.[3][4]
Possible drivers
- Trade tensions and U.S. policy developments have persisted as factors weighing on sentiment and travel plans, contributing to ongoing reluctance among some Canadian travelers.[4][3]
- Currency dynamics and higher travel costs relative to earlier years have also been cited as reasons Canadians reallocate spending away from U.S. destinations toward domestic travel or other regions.[5][3]
What travelers are choosing instead
- Many Canadians appear to be shifting toward domestic trips or international destinations such as Europe and Asia, as well as other nearby regions, as part of a broader rebalancing of travel priorities. This trend has been reported by travel-industry sources referencing shifts in bookings and consumer interest.[5]
Practical considerations if planning travel
- If you’re a Canadian traveler planning or reconsidering a U.S. trip, stay updated on current U.S. border policies, entry rules, and any advisories from the Government of Canada, as changes can influence costs, entry requirements, and perceived risk.[7][4]
- Monitor exchange-rate fluctuations and border wait times, which can affect overall trip cost and planning, especially for land travel.[3][4]
Illustrative takeaway
- The cross-border travel relationship between Canada and the U.S. is continuing to adapt to a mix of political, economic, and security considerations, with a notable shift away from U.S.-bound trips among a portion of Canadian travelers.[4][3]
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent official travel advisories and summarize any new entry requirements or warnings from the Government of Canada, or compare current U.S.-bound travel costs versus alternative destinations for your location in São Paulo. I can also create a quick chart of recent annual changes in Canadian travel to the U.S. if you want a visual.