Canadian Travel Down 30% by Car, Costing US $5.7 Billion Amid Tariff Tensions

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A deepening boycott by Canadian tourists is costing the United States billions of dollars, according to new data that confirms a sustained and significant decline in cross-border travel.

Statistics Canada data for October shows the number of Canadian trips to the US is continuing to plummet:

• Car Travel: Fell more than 30% compared to the same period last year.
• Air Travel: Dropped nearly 24% year-over-year.

The staggering figures mark the tenth consecutive month of decline since President Donald Trump took office earlier this year.

The financial fallout is substantial. The US Travel Association, representing the American travel industry, forecasts that overall international spending in the US will drop by $5.7 billion this year, attributing the decline primarily to the missing Canadian visitors.

Canadians traditionally account for roughly a quarter of all international visitors to the US, spending over $20 billion annually. The current diplomatic chill, largely fueled by President Trump\’s imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods and his provocative comments about making Canada the \”51st state,\” is cited as the main deterrent.

\”There are so many things that we just feel aghast about in terms of how [the administration] is acting internationally,\” said Kristy Gammon, a semi-retired family physician from Nova Scotia who has cancelled her regular US trips in protest. Her experience reflects a wider trend, especially among retirees known as \”snowbirds,\” who are selling Florida homes and staying north.

In response to the economic pain, some popular US tourist destinations are launching desperate campaigns. In Kalispell, Montana, near Glacier National Park, officials are offering a \”Canadian Welcome Pass\” with deals and discounts to entice travelers back, posting the message: \”We miss you.\”

Meanwhile, Canada’s own tourism sector is receiving an unexpected boost, hitting a record-breaking C$59 billion between May and August of 2025, largely due to citizens choosing to travel domestically.