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Canadian travelers shun US trips amid Trump-era tensions and tariffs
For decades, Kristy Gammon made regular trips from her Nova Scotia home to the US-skiing in Lake Placid, New York, and cheering at Baltimore Orioles games with her husband. But in 2025, those visits stopped. The 62-year-old now avoids even driving through the US en route to Ontario, a detour that adds hours to her journey.
Gammon is among a growing number of Canadians boycotting US travel in protest of President Donald Trump's policies, from trade tariffs to his administration's stance on international relations. "There are so many things we find appalling-how they treat their own citizens, their allies, even neighbors like Canada," she said.
Ten months of declining cross-border travel
October 2025 marked the tenth consecutive month of plummeting Canadian visits to the US, according to data from Statistics Canada. Air travel dropped nearly 24% year-over-year, while car crossings fell over 30%. The US Travel Association reports a 3.2% decline in international spending in the US, largely driven by fewer Canadian visitors-who historically accounted for a quarter of all foreign tourists and spent over $20 billion annually.
The downturn began after Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods earlier this year, citing a need to shrink the trade deficit and curb fentanyl trafficking. While most products remain exempt under the North American free trade framework, targeted levies on industries like steel and auto manufacturing have strained relations. Trade talks collapsed in September after Trump criticized an Ontario-sponsored anti-tariff ad featuring Ronald Reagan.
Local efforts to woo back Canadian tourists
Some US destinations are fighting the trend. Kalispell, Montana-gateway to Glacier National Park-launched a "Canadian Welcome Pass" with discounts at local businesses. "Our countries have had differences lately, but one thing's clear: we miss you," the campaign's website reads.
Future mega-events, like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, may offset losses, the US Travel Association suggests. Yet Canada's tourism sector is already benefiting: domestic travel surged to a record C$59 billion from May to August 2025, up 6% from 2024, per Destination Canada.
Snowbirds ground their migrations
The boycott extends to Canada's "snowbirds," retirees who winter in sunny US states like Florida. A Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada survey found only 10% of baby boomers planned US trips this year-a 66% drop from 2024. Some, like Gammon's friends, are selling Florida homes entirely. "They've completely changed their plans," she noted. "There's a real shift happening."
"Who knows what could change in three years? But it would take something major for us to reconsider."
Kristy Gammon, semi-retired physician
Uncertainty lingers as tensions persist
Gammon admits she misses her US trips but remains resolute. Whether the boycott lasts through Trump's term-or beyond-depends on policy shifts. For now, she and many Canadians are voting with their passports, rerouting vacations and rethinking long-standing traditions in a quiet but costly protest.
