by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 5:00 PM ET, Wed February 4, 2026
An overwhelming majority of Canadians — 81 percent of us — are desperate for a vacation, according to a new survey. The poll, conducted by Ipsos for Allianz Global Assistance Canada (Allianz), surveyed more than 2000 Canadians and found that many are planning to travel in 2026, and will spend more than they did last year.
Total vacation spending is set to climb to $47.6 billion in 2026, which is a 22 percent increase over 2025. On average, people are budgeting $4,169 per household for travel. For international travel, the budget is $6,354 per trip.
Not everyone is splashing out on big trips however. Based on the results of the survey, around a third (31 percent) of Canadians are not confident they will be travelling this year, with three in five of those citing economic barriers.
Almost half (48 percent) said they will adjust travel plans due to the weak Canadian dollar, with 17 percent stating they will be choosing less expensive destinations. A third are planning fewer trips due to impacts of the current economic climate, including inflation, interest rates and geopolitics.
Age demographics plays a big role in whether respondents were more or less likely to say their travel plans were impacted by economic conditions and geopolitics. According to the survey, older Canadians (over the age of 55) are the most likely to say their travel plans are not impacted at all by things like inflation, interest rates and geopolitics (53 percent). That compares to 40 percent of 18–34-year-olds and only 35 percent of 35–54-year-olds who reported the same feelings.
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