Sorry, America, we’re staying home: Why Canadians are snubbing US vacations in 2025

Canadian travel to the US is dropping fast. In April 2025, land trips to the US from Canada fell by 35.2 per cent. Air travel also dropped nearly 20 per cent. The reasons? Political tensions, safety concerns, high costs, and a growing sense of national pride.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has backed this trend. He’s encouraging Canadians to support homegrown businesses and explore the country. As Ottawa reshapes trade ties and domestic policy, many citizens are taking the message seriously.

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Travel experts say Americans are feeling the impact. US airports, hotels, and border shops are losing major Canadian dollars. Airlines cut thousands of seats on cross-border routes. In places like Buffalo, duty-free stores say business is down by half.

Meanwhile, Canada's own tourism industry is booming. Provinces are stepping up with stronger local campaigns. Tourism budgets have expanded in Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and B.C. Canadians are now more likely to book holidays close to home.

Destinations like Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, are reaping the benefits. Airbnb reports show a 20 per cent jump in domestic travel interest. Moose Jaw, with its spa resorts and quirky attractions, is trending as a top pick for 2025.

The rising costs of US travel are another factor. Flights, hotels, and food have become expensive in major American cities. Many Canadians also cite political worries and gun violence in the US as reasons to stay away.

Instead, they are choosing road trips, national parks, and small-town charm. From the cliffs of Newfoundland to the hot springs of Banff, local travel is back in style.

The shift may be long-lasting. Some tourism leaders say the US industry might not recover fully from the Canadian exit. Before 2020, Canadians were the biggest foreign tourist group in the US Now, their absence is being felt.

For many Canadians, the change is welcome. They’re saving money, supporting local jobs, and seeing parts of the country they had overlooked.

With Prime Minister Carney’s focus on building a “stronger, greener” Canada, the domestic travel boom fits the national mood. Its clear message is that Canada is the destination, and Canadians are loving the journey.