After more than a year of falling cross-border traffic, Canadian travel to the United States showed another sign of improvement in June. The latest figures marked the third consecutive month in which trips increased compared with the previous year.
While that is welcome news for U.S. destinations and businesses that rely on revenue from Canadian visitors, the year-over-year increase doesn’t necessarily mean the boycott is over. In fact, the data reveals that Canadians are still making far fewer trips to the U.S. than they did before political tensions began influencing travel decisions.
Canadian Travel To The U.S. Rose Again, But Only Compared With A Historic Low
In June 2026, Canadian residents returned from 1.7 million trips to the United States, a 3.2% increase from the same month last year. This followed improvements in April and May compared to the previous year. June was the third month in a row that saw an increase in Canadian travel to the U.S.
“I’m even starting to hear French being spoken again at stores and at attractions. It was quiet for sure. And I think everybody who lives here, whether you are in hospitality or not… you definitely noticed it and realized it was missed,” Kristy Kennedy of the North Country Chamber of Commerce in New York told CBC News.
However, Statistics Canada attributed this rise to a “base-year effect.” This means that the June 2026 numbers are being compared to June 2025, when travel between the two countries had already dropped significantly due to political tensions. The U.S. also saw a boost in travel due to the ongoing FIFA World Cup, which began on June 11.
Compared to June 2024, U.S. destinations are still lacking a significant number of Canadian travelers. Overall trips were down 28.7%, with automobile travel falling 29.6% and air travel declining 25%.
June 2024 to 2026 Canadian-Resident Return Trips
|
Return trips from the U.S. by air |
Return trips from the U.S. by automobile |
|
|---|---|---|
|
2024 |
467,104 |
1,983,140 |
|
2025 |
363,853 |
1,327,404 |
|
2026 |
350,181 |
1,395,948 |
Rather than giving up travel altogether, though, some Canadians have redirected their trips toward domestic and international destinations.
Canadians Are Still Choosing Other Destinations Over The U.S.
According to Statistics Canada’s 2025 National Travel Survey, Canadians made 14.3 million visits to overseas destinations, up 10.2% from 2024. Canadians also spent $31.3 billion overseas during the year, representing a 17.5% increase.
Mexico attracted the most Canadian visitors, despite having multiple travel warnings. In fact, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council, international arrivals to Mexico from all markets increased 6.1% in 2025, while international visitor spending rose 3.5%.
“North America’s Travel & Tourism sector continues to demonstrate resilience and strong long-term potential, supported by robust domestic demand and sustained investment across the region. Mexico’s performance in 2025 clearly shows the strength of its tourism sector and its growing competitiveness on the global stage,” said Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC, in a news release.
France, the Dominican Republic, and China were also among the most popular choices.
Top Overseas Destinations For Canadian Travelers In Q4 2025
|
Rank |
Country |
Canadian Visits |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Mexico |
673,000 |
|
2 |
France |
236,000 |
|
3 |
Dominican Republic |
231,000 |
|
4 |
Italy |
177,000 |
|
5 |
United Kingdom |
177,000 |
|
6 |
Cuba |
166,000 |
|
7 |
China |
164,000 |
|
8 |
Japan |
140,000 |
|
9 |
Portugal |
115,000 |
|
10 |
Spain |
110,000 |
Compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, Canadian visits increased by 185,000 for Mexico, 90,000 for France, and 76,000 for China.
On the other hand, the figures don’t prove that every traveler chose those destinations because of the U.S. boycott. Prices, exchange rates, and personal preferences can also shape vacation plans. But what does this all mean in the scheme of things?
U.S. Tourism Has Yet To Fully Recover From The Canadian Travel Decline
In 2024, Canadians made 20.4 million visits to the U.S. and spent $20.5 billion, according to the U.S. Travel Association. As a result, in the boycott’s early days, states and tourism boards pointed their marketing efforts toward Canadians.
Las Vegas businesses, which took a hard hit, introduced promotions that focused on affordability. For example, Circa, The D, and Golden Gate introduced an at-par promotion that gives Canadian guests $1 USD in value for every $1 CAD spent on qualifying hotel stays, drinks, and gaming. The offer ultimately attracted over 75,000 Canadian visitors and generated $15 million in slot machine wagers.
However, discounts may not fully address the reasons Canadians are staying away.
At the time of publication, $1 CAD was equivalent to approximately $0.71 USD.
Yulia Nevskaya, an assistant professor of marketing at Queen’s University, told TheTravel, “Advertising and promotion campaigns alone usually can’t overcome the considerations of costs and political climate.”
Nevskaya also explained that travelers may avoid the U.S. because they care about how friends, family, and other Canadians view their travel choices.
“Our travels, which we love discussing with others, do tell an important story about who we are, and we often need other people to approve of and admire our travel choices,” Nevskaya continued.
Additionally, once they find destinations they enjoy elsewhere, they may have even less reason to return.
The recent increases may show that promotions are reaching some Canadians, but the large gap with the June 2024 data suggests that winning them back will require more than cheaper rooms and welcoming advertisements.
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