Canadians boycott USA tour, where do they go?

Canadians are boycotting travel to the United States. Many are outraged by Donald Trump's policies and his anti-Canada rhetoric following his re-election as president, and are therefore choosing to stay away from U.S. travel destinations.

Some are touring their own country instead of the U.S., while others are opting for destinations in Europe, Africa, and Latin America.

Alongside the strain in bilateral relations, tariff policies and a growing disinterest in the U.S. are also influencing this decision. As a result, the United States is gradually being dropped from Canadians' travel itineraries.

Canadian Atlantic region. 

Kent Truscott, a resident of London, Ontario, and his family used to travel to the U.S. regularly. They have visited various places, including California, and last went to New York in 2023. However, since late 2024, they made the decision to completely boycott U.S. travel.

As a result, Truscott canceled his plan to go to Texas with his brother last spring to watch the launch of SpaceX's Starship. They had planned to fly from Toronto, rent a car, and stay for a week, which would have cost several thousand Canadian dollars. Instead, they spent that money in Canada, choosing Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island for their trip.

Like Truscott, many Canadians are now choosing their own country or other international tourist destinations over the U.S. Beyond the tariffs imposed on U.S. goods, Trump's remarks about making Canada the 51st state have also played a role in their decision.

According to national statistics, although Canadian road travel to the U.S. increased slightly this past April compared to the same period in 2024, the number of trips was still nearly 800,000 fewer. This decline is significant compared to the number of Canadians who traveled to the U.S. before Trump's election in 2024.

As a result of this boycott, U.S. tourism revenue fell by approximately 3.3 billion Canadian dollars (or 2.35 billion U.S. dollars) last year. A portion of that money is now being spent by Canadians domestically, while others are heading to various international destinations instead of the U.S.

To win back Canadian tourists, various U.S. cities and states have launched promotional campaigns and special discounts. In July, New York City's tourism authorities announced 30% discounts on Broadway show tickets and hotel rooms for Canadian visitors.

Canadian torust couple in Morocco.

However, it is not just Trump's policies at play – the weak position of the Canadian dollar has also made traveling to the U.S. prohibitively expensive for many. Even so, many Canadians feel that the relationship between the two countries has reached a point where significant changes are needed before things can return to how they once were.

Kent Truscott and his wife travel in Atlantic Canada

During their trip to Atlantic Canada, Kent Truscott and his wife rented a car and hiked the Cabot Trail. They also stayed at a women-owned resort by the Atlantic Ocean. Experiencing local cuisine became one of the highlights of their journey.

Truscott said he does not know when he will visit the United States again. He is disappointed by the immigration crackdowns, various policies of Trump, and his remarks about Canada. He also believes there is no chance of the bilateral relationship simply returning to normal once Trump is gone.

Canadians visit Italy.

After living in Texas for nearly 19 years, Linda Russo and her husband Joe returned to Canada to spend their retirement. Outraged by Trump's re-election, they came back to Canada earlier than planned, in February 2025.

Later, after Trump referred to Canada as the 51st state and called former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a "governor," they decided to completely boycott the U.S.

They had planned a cruise from New York through the Panama Canal but canceled it and instead took a cruise with the same company on the Rome–Barcelona route. They enjoyed exploring ancient architecture and tasting local cuisine there.

Russo said that while the people of New York are not at fault, everything in the U.S. is influenced by the president's policies. Despite holding dual citizenship in both the U.S. and Canada, they have now given up their "snowbird" lifestyle of staying in Florida or Arizona during the winter. They do not cross the border unless necessary and avoid spending money there.

Nick Smith, a retired resident of Vancouver, is also staying away from U.S. travel. After Trump was first elected president in 2016, he stopped taking his children on road trips to Seattle and various U.S. national parks. He resumed traveling when Joe Biden took office but stopped again during Trump's second term.

He is now even reluctant to connect through U.S. cities when traveling to other countries. Last fall, when he went to Mexico City with friends, he took a direct flight from Vancouver. This year, he and his wife Sylvia visited Morocco for the first time, touring the cities of Marrakech, Fes, and Essaouira. He was particularly drawn to the experience of observing Muslim religious rituals up close during Ramadan.

Smith stated that it is not simply a matter of returning to the U.S. once Trump leaves the White House. He wants to see concrete steps taken to normalize relations with Canada.

Kristy Mitchell, a resident of Powell River, British Columbia, has traveled to the United States countless times at various points in her life. She has experienced hiking in national parks, watching American football games, and traveling through various states in an RV to reach Florida.

However, disillusioned by the current administration's policies, Mitchell has stopped traveling to or shopping in the U.S. Instead of going to the U.S., she seized the opportunity to fulfill a long-held dream. Rather than going to Las Vegas to celebrate her 50th birthday, she walked the 790-kilometer-long Camino Francés route in Spain.

The biggest takeaway for her from this trip was meeting people from different countries. Mitchell said that many of the people she met along the way were going through transitional periods in their lives. She had the chance to have deep, beautiful conversations with complete strangers.

Mitchell would like to visit the U.S. again in the future. However, she believes that this will require new leadership in the White House and a reconciliation in Canada-U.S. relations.

Source: BBC