Canadians Refrain from US Travel Amid Political Discontent

Fri Dec 05 2025 05:25:21 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A growing number of Canadians are boycotting travel to the US, protesting policies under the Trump administration that they oppose, leading to a significant drop in cross-border tourists.

As political tensions rise between Canada and the US, many Canadians are choosing to boycott travel to the US as a form of protest against the Trump administration's policies. Recent statistics reveal a significant decline in travel from Canada to the US, highlighting a commitment among Canadians to support their own tourism sector. This shift comes amid ongoing tariff disputes and strained relations between the two nations, as Canadians opt for domestic travel 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, she said. 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 Donald 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, how they're treating their allies and neighbours, i.e. Canada, Ms Gammon said.

Ms Gammon and her friends are part of a trend that shows no signs of slowing. October marked the 10th straight month of decline in the number of Canadian travellers to the US. Air travel from Canada to the US dropped nearly 24%, while car travel fell more than 30% compared to last year, according to data from Canada's statistics office.

Overall, the US has experienced a 3.2% drop in international spending, primarily due to fewer visitors from Canada, as reported by the US Travel Association.

As relations between the two countries remain icy, mostly in response to new tariffs imposed by Trump, Canadians seem committed to giving their southern neighbours the cold shoulder.

In the past, Canadians contributed to about a quarter of all international visitors to the US, spending over $20 billion annually, as highlighted by the US Travel Association.

Canadians began to limit their US travel following Trump’s imposition of tariffs aimed at reducing the trade deficit and claims that Canada should do more to combat the flow of illegal drugs into the US.

Currently, Canada faces 35% tariffs on its goods, with certain exemptions under an existing North American free trade agreement.

Trade discussions were disrupted last month when Trump reacted negatively to an anti-tariff advertisement in the US supported by Ontario.

Tourist destinations in the US have attempted to counter this trend, such as Kalispell, Montana, where officials offer a Canadian Welcome Pass with discounts to attract travelers.

Despite the ongoing tensions, Canada's own tourism sector has seen a boost, making a record C$59 billion from May to August 2025, primarily from domestic travel.

Interestingly, retirees targeting warm destinations in Florida have also reduced their trips to the US, with only 10% planning visits for this year—a sharp drop of 66% compared to last year.

Ms Gammon mentioned that some of her friends have even opted to sell their winter homes in Florida due to frustrations with the Trump administration.

While she is uncertain if this boycott will persist, she personally misses her trips to the US but remains firm in her decision. Who knows what could change between now and three years, Ms Gammon said. But it would have to be pretty significant changes for us personally to change our minds.