Colorado Tourism Bets on Canada Amid U.S. Travel Slowdown

While many U.S. destinations are grappling with a pullback in Canadian travel, Colorado is telling a different story.

TravelPulse Canada sat down with representatives from Colorado Tourism and destination partners to understand why, at a time when many U.S. states are reporting declines in visitation, Colorado says Canadians are still coming.

Colorado Tourism Director Tim Wolfe pointed to steady demand and modest growth from Canada, positioning the state as an outlier amid a broader slowdown in cross-border travel.

“Canada has always been a key partner for us,” he said. “We haven’t shifted our strategy because we’ve always been open and welcoming to Canadian visitors, and that continues today.”

Bucking the National Trend

While U.S. tourism bodies report declines in international travel, Wolfe said Colorado hasn’t seen a huge drop-off in Canadian visitors.

“In fact, capacity between Denver and Canada is actually up. Flights are increasing, and we’re seeing moderate growth, which really bucks the national trend.”

According to figures shared during the meeting, air capacity between Denver and Canadian gateways is up two percent year-over-year, with passenger traffic rising one percent, a signal, Wolfe said, of a relationship that remains resilient even amid uncertainty.

Canada–Colorado Friendship

During a visit to Toronto, Wolfe shared that commitment will be particularly visible in 2026, when Colorado marks its 150th anniversary.

Colorado’s sesquicentennial celebrations will span the entire state in 2026, using what Wolfe described as “enhanced versions of festivals and experiences that already exist,” including large-scale drone shows, dubbed Stories in the Sky, choreographed to music and tied to Colorado’s past, present, and future.

Rather than creating one-off events, the state is integrating anniversary programming into established festivals and community gatherings, from rodeos to cultural celebrations.

“We’re not asking people to do something completely new,” Wolfe said.

“We’re enhancing what already makes Colorado special.”

Adding further weight to the relationship is the second annual Colorado–Canada Friendship Day, set for March 13, 2026. First announced in 2025 by Governor Jared Polis, the initiative is intended to acknowledge the depth of cultural, economic, and diplomatic ties between Colorado and Canada, at a time when sentiment toward cross-border travel cannot be taken for granted.

Colorado sees Canada as a long-term partner, not a short-term market reacting to headlines.

“Through all the troubling things happening around us, we’re still friends, and we always will be,” Wolfe said.

“Canadians are our neighbours, our family, and they are always welcome in Colorado.”

Downtown Fort Collins, Colorado (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock)

Canadians Feel “At Home” 

Located about an hour north of Denver, Visit Fort Collins positions the city as a natural starting point for Canadians arriving in Colorado.

Fort Collins sits “where the mountains meet the plains,” a distinction local tourism leaders say matters more than travellers might realize. 

For Canadians easing into Colorado’s elevation, the city offers a chance to acclimate while still delivering access to outdoor experiences and a lively downtown.

“We tend to fall more on the soft-adventure side,” Katy Schneider of Visit Fort Collins explained, noting that experiences range from whitewater rafting and mountain biking to what she described, more simply, as “going for a stroll and calling it a hike.”

That balance appears to resonate with Canadian travellers. Schneider said Canada remains Fort Collins’ number-one international source market, with no visible drop-off in visitation, a trend reflected in foot traffic.

“Canadians really feel at home here,” she said. “When you come to Fort Collins, you meet the locals, and it’s just welcoming.”

Estes Park Sees Multi-Generational Appeal

Estes Park serves as the base camp for Rocky Mountain National Park, which Jessica Russell of Visit Estes Park noted is the fifth-most-visited national park in the U.S.

While the park is best known for hiking, wildlife viewing, and alpine scenery, Russell emphasized that the destination appeals to a broad audience.

“We see a lot of families and multi-generational travel,” Russell told TravelPulse Canada.

“From casual walking trails to more intensive mountaineering, there’s something for everyone.”

Beyond the park gates, Estes Park is actively broadening its visitor experience. The town’s arts district was recently certified as a Colorado Creative District, and a growing calendar of festivals and cultural events is giving travellers more reasons to linger.

Estes Park is also leaning into astro-tourism as it works toward Dark Sky certification, retrofitting lighting and hosting community events designed to raise awareness around night-sky preservation, an initiative that Russell said is already generating increased visitor interest.

Passengers get a front row seat to the American Southwest. (Photo Credit: Canyon Spirit)

Canyon Spirit

For Canadians hesitant about long road trips, fuel costs, or navigating unfamiliar U.S. highways, luxury rail is emerging as a practical alternative.

Canyon Spirit, which began operating under its own name after separating U.S. routes from the Rocky Mountaineer brand, now runs between Denver and Moab, offering an all-inclusive rail journey through Colorado and the American Southwest.

“It’s a great alternative to a road trip,” said Dallas Carlson of Canyon Spirit. 

“Nobody has to drive. Meals are included, luggage is transferred, and guests can simply sit back and enjoy the scenery.”

Carlson noted that the product continues to resonate with Canadians already familiar with Rocky Mountaineer’s service standards, particularly among travellers aged 65-plus and cruise clients looking for a land-based experience with similar levels of comfort and service.

Carlson referenced a limited-time Journey in 2026 offer, positioning it as an incentive for clients ready to plan further ahead rather than a short-term sales push.

For advisors, the appeal is a single product that bundles transportation, scenery, onboard service, and logistics into one experience.

The Journey in 2026 promo for Canyon Spirit runs from February 3 to March 3.

Message for the Canadian Trade

For Canadian travel advisors navigating hesitation around U.S. travel, Colorado says it is positioning itself as a familiar, dependable option that understands the current climate.

“Canadians have always been part of Colorado’s story, and that’s not changing,” Wolfe said.

“We are open, we are welcoming, and we value this relationship deeply.”

 

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