By Allison Pohle | The Wall Street Journal
Canadians have long been the top international travelers to the U.S. Now, they are staying home.
After President Trump said he would impose tariffs on Canada, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau encouraged Canadians to change their vacation plans to focus on exploring sites within the country. It worked.
Canadian residents returned from 13% fewer trips by air to the U.S. in February than they did a year ago, according to preliminary data from Statistics Canada. Land-border crossings fell, too, with Statistics Canada reporting February’s Canadian-resident return trips from the U.S. dropped 23% from a year earlier.
More than the tariff threats, Canadians say Trump’s threats of annexation have infuriated and scared them, so much so that they won’t cross the border to spend time or money. Recent news about lengthy detentions for tourists and green-card holders has further deterred would-be travelers.
A boycott by the top international visitor threatens to upend local economies across the U.S. Canadians made about 20.2 million visits to the U.S. in 2024. Even a 10% reduction in Canadian travel could mean $2 billion in lost spending and 14,000 job losses, according to the U.S. Travel Association trade group.
The administration has held firm on its messaging. “Canadians will no longer have to worry about the inconveniences of international travel when they become American citizens as residents of our cherished 51st state,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said.
Canadian cancellations
Craig Treulieb, a 34-year-old senior software developer from Ontario, and his wife planned to go to Arizona in May to celebrate her completing a career change. They spent about $3,500 on flights, hotels, an Airbnb booking and a rental car, with plans to spend freely on food and excursions during the nearly two-week trip.
On Feb. 8, the day after Trudeau told business leaders that Trump might be serious about annexing Canada, they canceled the trip. They lost about $500 on hotels, but were able to get credits or refunds on the other purchases and will instead travel to British Columbia.
“I don’t feel right spending my money there,” he says of the U.S., noting the annexation threats from Trump feel very serious to Canadians.
The full effects might not become apparent for months. While some travelers have canceled U.S. bookings, many say they hadn’t yet booked stateside travel but have now chosen other destinations.
Krunal Patel, a 40-year-old art teacher from Vancouver, had plans to travel to Las Vegas with seven friends this October. They hadn’t yet booked plane tickets or hotel rooms, but were finalizing dates for the trip when Trump began escalating his language about tariffs and annexation.
The news of a Canadian actress being detained solidified their decision to travel elsewhere, he says. “We felt like, ‘What if we were coming back and not everything was correct so we were put in a detention facility for a while?’ We just felt uneasy.”
The group now plans to travel to Spain.
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