Overview
- Statistics Canada reported October marked a tenth consecutive year-over-year drop, with 1.4 million car returns to Canada from the U.S. (down 30.5%) and 437,300 air returns (down about 24%).
- U.S. Travel Association forecasts a 3.2% decline in inbound spending this year, a loss of roughly US$5–5.7 billion largely attributed to fewer Canadian visitors.
- Canadians are shifting to overseas travel, with nearly 964,000 returning by air from abroad in October, up almost 7%, and Air France-KLM citing a 30% jump in bookings from Canada.
- Drivers cited include Trump-era tariffs and rhetoric, concerns about border treatment and new fingerprinting requirements viewed as invasive by 65% of Canadians in an Angus Reid poll, plus the weaker Canadian dollar.
- Responses span Canada’s Canada Strong Pass—launched in April and extended through the holidays and Summer 2026—and U.S. state campaigns such as California’s effort, where Canadian spending is expected to drop to US$3.0 billion from US$3.7 billion in 2024.