A recent survey conducted by Leger Marketing for the Association for Canadian Studies reveals that a some Canadians no longer feel welcome or safe travelling to the United States.
The poll involved 1,626 respondents across Canada, between May 1 and 3, 2025. Its findings indicate that a significant number of Canadians feel less inclined to travel to the U.S. due to current political tensions and safety concerns.
This sentiment aligns with broader trends observed in Canadian travel behaviour, as reported in various news outlets.
The Associated Press reports that there were over 910,000 fewer land border crossings from Canada into the U.S. in March 2025 compared to March 2024, marking a decline of more than 22%, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.
Since President Trump returned to office, his administration's policies and rhetoric have created tension in U.S.-Canada relations, resulting in a notable decline in cross-border travel.
“There’s a little nationalism there I guess, perhaps,” Trump told reporters about the travel drop-off at the Oval Office in April. “It’s not a big deal.”
In March, the Government of Canada revised its travel advice for the United States. Although the advisory for travellers heading into the U.S. remained at a green "take normal precautions" level, the "entry and exit" section of the page was significantly expanded.
Several factors contribute to Canadians' reluctance to visit the U.S., including aggressive immigration enforcement, rising tariffs, and reports of tourists being detained at the border.
Incidents like the 12-day detention of Canadian tourist Jasmine Mooney have heightened anxieties. New requirements mandating Canadians entering the U.S. for more than 30 days to register with authorities and be fingerprinted have further discouraged travel.
The economic impact of this decline is substantial.
Politico reports that tourism was initially projected to have an 8.8% increase in international visitation to the U.S. for 2025 but has since revised its forecast to a 9.4% decrease, with Canadian travel expected to fall by over 20%, potentially resulting in a USD$9 billion loss in revenue.
U.S. border towns and tourism-dependent States are experiencing significant downturns, with businesses reporting up to a 90% drop in bookings.
Trump has publicly downplayed the trend, attributing the drop to “a little nationalism” and calling it no big deal during a recent Oval Office press briefing.
“There’s a little nationalism there I guess, perhaps,” he told reporters about the travel dropoff at the Oval Office in April. “It’s not a big deal.”
Several U.S. hotels are lowering prices and offering exclusive promotions to charm more Canadians.
California launched a “California Loves Canada” campaign to attract Canadian travellers back. Hawai'i Tourism Canada is focusing its marketing efforts on highlighting Hawai'i's unique cultural, natural, and experiential offerings for the Canadian audience.
For more detailed information on the survey and its findings, visit the Association for Canadian Studies' official website.
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