by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 10:30 AM ET, Thu July 24, 2025
Statistics Canada’s numbers for May are out, revealing more and more Canadians are choosing to stay home rather than travel out of the country.
It’s a continuation of the trend that’s been reported throughout 2025, with the number of return arrivals from abroad declining overall. Despite arrivals home from overseas rising (up 8.9 percent compared with May 2024), return trips from the U.S. fell off a cliff (down 31.9 percent from last year), which dragged the overall number of arrivals back to Canada down by 22.5 percent.
Visitors to Canada
U.S. residents visiting Canada were a little more scarce than they were in May 2024, with 5.4 percent fewer visitors.
Arrivals in Canada by visitors from elsewhere in the world were also down (6.6 percent). The biggest hits were from Europe (-4.1 percent) and Asia (-11.3 percent)—which are the two largest source markets for overseas visitors to Canada.
According to StatCan, in May, the top three countries of residence for overseas visitors were the United Kingdom (78,400), India (61,300) and France (48,600). Together those markets accounted for 32.7 percent of all overseas arrivals in Canada.
Seasonal Adjustments
When the numbers are “seasonally adjusted” — that is, data that have been modified to eliminate the effect of seasonal and calendar influences, allowing for “more meaningful comparisons of economic conditions from period to period” — the numbers look less drastic. StatCan reports, when seasonally adjusted, “Canadian residents returned from fewer trips abroad for a fifth consecutive month, down 3.1 percent in May 2025. US-resident arrivals increased 2.1 percent, while overseas-resident arrivals rose 2.0 percent.”
Winter is Coming
It’s the fifth straight month of decreasing trips by Canadians, and it’s something experts are keeping an eye on, particularly as it relates to an anticipated decline in Canadian snowbirds wintering in the U.S.
“Shifts in where older Canadians choose to spend their winter months will have significant implications for economies and health systems,” says Simon Fraser University professor Valorie Crooks. “Last year, we heard of communities in the southern United States reaching out to these Canadians and encouraging them to still travel, and surely that messaging will continue. Many other destinations are excited about the opportunities opened by this shift, with popular places in Mexico and the Caribbean eager to host Canada’s snowbirds.”
"There are many reasons that Canadian snowbirds have long chosen the U.S. as their preferred destination, including safety, proximity, and cultural connections,” adds Simon Fraser University professor Jeremy Snyder. “But we're now seeing that politics and changes to border policies can have a big impact on where Canadian retirees choose to spend their winter months."
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