Thousands of Canadians are ripping up plans to play slots in Vegas, watch Broadway shows and explore the Grand Canyon for one reason – they are disgusted by Donald Trump’s treatment of Canada.
The U.S. President’s bombastic annexation threats, his belittling of Canada and his erratic tariffs have caused many Canadians to ditch plans to visit south of the border. The trend – driven by patriotism, anger and in some cases, fear – is more than symbolic.
The boycott is causing pain for U.S. businesses that depend on tourism. By keeping up the pressure, Canadians can spur American business owners to push back on Mr. Trump. It’s another front in the trade war, adding to official retaliation such as dollar-for-dollar tariffs and the buy-Canadian movement that is sweeping through this country’s retail sector.
In February, the number of Canadian residents returning by automobile from the U.S. – 1.2 million – was a 23 per cent drop from the same month in 2024, according to Statistics Canada. Canadian airlines are seeing drops in cross-border bookings, with WestJet pulling some routes to the U.S. Tourism firms in the U.S. say bookings from Canada have dramatically slowed and cancellations have increased. Much like the boycott of American consumer goods, cutting U.S. travel is a move that is difficult for the Trump administration to counter.
A 10 per cent drop in Canadian travel would amount to US$2.1-billion in lost spending, and could result in the loss of 14,000 jobs, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Florida, the home of Mr. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago, is likely to feel the most pain, given the state is the top destination for Canadian travellers. As a Republican held “red state,” it has strong connections with the new government. Other top destinations for Canadians include Arizona, Nevada and Michigan, swing states that could be closely watched in the 2026 midterm elections.
Regardless of a person’s political views, the environment in the U.S. today is less welcoming for Canadian travellers. The low loonie has made travel more costly, and fears about treatment at border crossings have increased.
It would have been hard to imagine even a few months ago that white collar businesses in Canada would advise employees to use “burner phones” and scrub their social media accounts before entering the U.S. Reports about a B.C. woman held by American immigration officials for two weeks, and the refusal to allow entry of some Iranian-born Canadians, have sparked concerns about the risks of interrogation and arbitrary detention at the border.
And the general political climate, with raids on migrants and the gutting of the civil service, contributes to a dark atmosphere that for some, is overshadowing America’s reputation as a fun travel destination.
Canada’s own tourism industry is well positioned to benefit, and tourism boards and government officials should look for ways to help the sector take advantage of the moment through advertising campaigns and other initiatives. Some tourism operators in Ontario’s Prince Edward County and Niagara Falls are seeing signs that Canadians are shifting to domestic tourism options, which could help bolster the economy and offset other sectors, such as manufacturing, which face tariff headwinds.
There is also an opportunity for Canada to attract tourists from Europe and other places who would normally vacation in the U.S. An article in Britain’s Sunday Times about an increase in interest in Canada travel asked: “Is Vancouver now cooler than Seattle?”
Let’s not write off our American neighbours either. Despite the two countries’ differences, Canadians should continue to offer a warm welcome to American tourists. Many are still keen to travel here – cross-border trips from U.S. residents did drop by 8 per cent, but that’s a less dramatic plunge than the one for Canadians heading south. Every dollar they contribute to our economy helps – think of it as a counter-tariff.
A travel boycott is not going to cause Mr. Trump to immediately ditch his provocations, but it adds pressure on him to rethink his actions toward his neighbours. Some business and family trips to the U.S. can’t be avoided, but vacations, shopping trips and other discretionary travel can be cut. Canadians can’t vote in U.S. elections – but they can vote with their feet.