Full Breakdown
Decline in Canadian Travel to the United States Amid Trump-Era Policies
7/28/2026, 8:40:16 PM
Sharp Drop in Canadian Tourism
A Canadian government report released last week shows that Canadian visitors spent $2.3 billion less in the United States in 2025, with total spending falling to C$18.8 billion (? $12.8 billion) from C$22.1 billion (? $15.6 billion) the previous year. Travel to the United States dropped by 25 percent, marking the longest sustained month-over-month decline since records began in 1972. The report links the shift to “America First” policies introduced after the early 2025 administration change.
Background: Policy Shifts and Trade Tensions
Since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, the United States imposed tariffs on Canadian-made goods, intensified immigration enforcement, and repeatedly suggested that Canada could become a “51st state.” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded that “Canada is not for sale.” The University of Toronto’s May research corroborates the trend, noting a 42 percent plunge in visits to major U.S. cities such as San Francisco, Houston and Grand Rapids during Trump’s second term. The trade war also contributed to a 17 percent drop in Canadian trips to Las Vegas, a market that traditionally relied heavily on Canadian tourists.
Data Highlights
- Canadian outbound trips to the United States fell for 11 consecutive months in 2025.
- Domestic trips within Canada rose by roughly 5 million, while overseas trips increased by 1.3 million.
- A CNN report cited a 5.5 percent decline in overall international visitors to the United States in 2025, the sharpest drop in roughly 20 years, with Canada accounting for the largest share of the loss.
Official Reactions
Prime Minister Carney’s public rebuke underscores the diplomatic friction. Juliette Kayyem, faculty chair of the Homeland Security Project at the Harvard Kennedy School, warned that the United States is losing its appeal as a destination, saying the nation’s narrative “no longer exists.”
Verbatim Quote
“We used to be a country that others wanted to emulate. That narrative no longer exists,” — Juliette Kayyem, faculty chair of the Homeland Security Project at the Harvard Kennedy School
