A growing number of Canadians are choosing not to travel to the United States. The boycott is linked to President Donald Trump’s policies toward Canada, the tariffs imposed by the US and his statements about annexing the neighboring country.
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Tourism data show that these are not merely isolated cases. Although there was a slight increase in vehicle trips to the US in April, Canadians made around 800,000 fewer trips to the United States that month than in April 2024.
Instead of going to the US, many Canadians are choosing to visit parts of their own country or other international destinations. Among them is Kent Truscott of London, Ontario, whose family decided in late 2024 to stop traveling to the United States. They had planned to go to Texas to watch a SpaceX launch, but canceled the trip and chose to spend the money in Canada instead.
Rather than traveling to Texas, Truscott and his wife visited the Atlantic provinces of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. During the trip, they rented a vehicle, traveled along the Cabot Trail and stayed at a resort on the Atlantic coast.
Speaking about relations between the two countries and the Trump administration’s approach, Truscott said there had been “a fundamental break.” He cited immigration policies, rhetoric toward Canada and US tariffs as the reasons.
The effects of the boycott have also been felt in the US tourism sector. Data cited in the report show that the absence of Canadian visitors cost the US around 3.3 billion Canadian dollars in travel revenue over the past year.
To reverse the trend, several US cities and states have launched campaigns aimed at bringing Canadian tourists back. In July, New York City’s tourism board announced 30% discounts for Canadian visitors, including hotel rooms and tickets to Broadway shows.
However, political decisions are not the only factor influencing this choice. Some Canadians say the decline in the value of the Canadian dollar has made visits to the US more expensive and less appealing.
For many others, the problem goes beyond costs. They believe relations between the two countries are in crisis and that Canadian tourists are unlikely to return to the US immediately, even if the American administration changes.
