Ontario Skiers Stay Home Due to Canada-U.S. Travel Tensions, Regulator Reports

Rowan Ashford

Published: February 13, 2026 11:32 AM ET

Ontario Skiers Stay Home Due to Canada-U.S. Travel Tensions, Regulator Reports

Recent tensions between Canada and the U.S. have led to a significant decline in Ontario ski enthusiasts traveling to American resorts. According to the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO), there has been a 40% decrease in cross-border trips by Ontario residents to these destinations over the past year.

Impact of Political Uncertainty on Ski Tourism

Travel Industry Council CEO Richard Smart indicated that strained relations between the two nations are influencing this trend. He remarked, “Ontarians and Canadians are looking for alternatives,” citing geopolitical factors along with tariffs affecting travel decisions.

Statistics on Travel Decline

Additional statistics corroborate this decline. Data from Statistics Canada revealed a 30.9% fall in Canadian vehicles entering the U.S. compared to the previous year. This downturn in visits is felt keenly by ski resorts in the northeastern U.S., particularly in upstate New York.

Effects on U.S. Ski Resorts

Dash Hegeman, the marketing director at Holiday Valley Ski Resort in Ellicottville, New York, has noticed fewer Canadian visitors as well. He mentioned, “Historically we’ve had a good number of Canadian school clubs that have come down,” adding that many have opted out of cross-border travel.

Estimated loss of $14 million for the Adirondack region due to decreased Canadian visits.
Before the pandemic, Canadians accounted for about 15% of day and season pass sales.
This number dipped to approximately 10% in 2022 and stabilized until the recent year.

Preparedness for Travelers

For Ontarians considering travel, TICO emphasizes the importance of proper documentation and travel insurance. Smart noted that registered travel agencies can significantly ease the process for travelers, and using them incurs no additional cost for clients.

As conditions change, U.S. ski towns remain hopeful for a resurgence in visitors. However, snowfall may ultimately dictate the timing of when Canadian skiers return.