StatCan Reports Canadians Still Shunning U.S. Travel, Opposite Not True
Statistics Canada has released a new report highlighting a significant drop in Canadian travel to the United States. In February, the number of Canadians returning from the U.S. fell to 1.5 million, representing a 14.5% decrease compared to the same month last year. Conversely, the number of U.S. residents traveling to Canada rose for the first time in 12 months, reaching 959,600, which is an increase of 6.1% from the previous year.
Trends in Canadian and U.S. Travel
Despite the decline in U.S.-bound trips, Canadians are still traveling abroad. The same report noted that Canadian residents made 1.3 million return trips from overseas by air in February, a 7.2% increase year-over-year. Notably, this figure surpassed the number of returns from the United States by car, which stood at 1 million.
Impact of Political Relations
The decrease in travel is attributed to ongoing friction between Canada and the U.S. This trend began in early 2025, coinciding with the commencement of a trade war and controversial rhetoric from U.S. officials. A poll from July 2025 indicated that approximately 75% of Canadians stated they would avoid traveling to the U.S., an increase of 10 percentage points since February 2025.
Travel Statistics Overview
- Canadians returning from the U.S.: 1.5 million (down 14.5%)
- U.S. residents visiting Canada: 959,600 (up 6.1%)
- Air travel from overseas by Canadians: 1.3 million (up 7.2%)
- Canadian return trips by car: 1 million
- Overseas resident trips to Canada: up 10.5% from February 2025
The data further reveals that U.S. residents made nearly 720,400 trips by automobile and 239,200 by air to Canada in February. The highest influx of visitors occurred just before U.S. President’s Day on February 16, while the lowest was on February 3.
Long-Term Travel Patterns
Looking at a longer timeline, there has been a substantial decline in Canadian trips to the U.S. A comparison between Februarys in 2024 and 2026 shows a staggering 31.5% drop. In addition, the number of Canadians entering the U.S. by vehicle fell by 18.8% over the past year, with pedestrian entries also decreasing by 15.4%.
While diplomatic discussions continue between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump, the sentiment among Canadians regarding travel to the U.S. remains cautious. Public opinion appears to reflect a growing desire to avoid American destinations, further complicating the travel landscape between the two countries.
For more insights and analysis on travel trends, visit Filmogaz.com.
