Flights Empty, Hotels Quiet as Political Fallout Freezes Cross-Border Travel Canadians are canceling U.S. vacations in record numbers, slashing air travel by 24% and road trips by 30%. Resorts from Florida to Montana report visitor drops up to 30%, duty-free shops are gutting staff, and border states are feeling pain worse than the pandemic. Polls show the shift is deliberate—travel dollars are being rerouted to Mexico and Europe. The message is clear: politics just rewired tourism… and the damage is already done.
Canadians are dramatically rethinking their travel plans to the United States, leading to a staggering estimated loss of $5.7 billion in tourism revenue for 2025. This shift stems from rising tensions and divisive rhetoric from former President Donald Trump, prompting many to stay away and rethink their vacation choices.
As border challenges mount and political rhetoric intensifies, Canadians are canceling trips to the U.S. in droves. Once a bustling source of tourism, the American landscape is now feeling the chill of empty flights and vacant hotel rooms. With over 20 million visits and $20 billion spent by Canadians in the U.S. last year, the economic impact is profound.
The fallout is visible across popular destinations. Ski resorts in Montana and hotels in Florida report significant drops in Canadian visitors, with some establishments witnessing declines of up to 30%. Duty-free shops along the border have been forced to reduce staff by 80%, reflecting a broader trend of avoidance rather than mere coincidence.
Data from Statistics Canada reveals alarming trends, with air travel from Canada down 24% and land travel plummeting by 30% in October alone. The consistent decline suggests a deliberate choice by Canadians to boycott travel to the U.S., driven by feelings of disrespect and hostility.
Surveys echo this sentiment, with a Longwoods International study indicating 60% of Canadians are less inclined to travel to the U.S. due to American policies and rhetoric. In Quebec, nearly half of respondents have canceled or are contemplating canceling trips, representing a staggering potential loss of $3 billion from that province alone.
The repercussions extend beyond lost revenue; they threaten the livelihoods of countless American workers. A Congressional report outlines the damage state by state, with New Hampshire and Maine seeing visitor drops that businesses describe as unprecedented, even worse than during the pandemic.
This boycott reveals a significant shift in the Canada-U.S. relationship. Canadians are redirecting their travel dollars to destinations that treat them with respect, with increased interest in places like Mexico and Europe. As domestic tourism campaigns gain traction, the U.S. is left grappling with the consequences of lost goodwill.
Senators have begun to take notice, traveling to Ottawa to seek relief for businesses impacted by the Canadian boycott. The economic pain inflicted has become impossible to ignore, forcing a reassessment of policies that may have driven this wedge between neighbors.
In a world where consumer sentiment can wield considerable power, this situation serves as a stark reminder: political behavior has lasting effects on everyday decisions. The evolving dynamics of travel and commerce may reshape the future of U.S.-Canada relations for generations to come.