Many Canadians are opting for international travel instead of visiting the United States, influenced by ongoing trade tensions. Kelly Bergquist, an avid traveler from Edmonton, used to visit the U.S. annually. Her last trip was to Las Vegas in August 2024 for a concert. However, she is reconsidering her travel plans due to the trade war. "I just don't really want to support them right now. If they're going to do that to us, I don't want to give any money to them," Bergquist stated.

Instead of the U.S., Bergquist is planning trips to Mexico and the Balkan countries in southeastern Europe next year. She mentioned, "I could have easily done a Mississippi River cruise or any kind of cruise that basically goes out of the States. But as of right now, I'm just putting all that aside until we kind of see where things are going."

Recent data from Flight Centre Canada indicates a significant shift in Canadian travel preferences. Between May 1 and July 30, travel spending for various international destinations surged compared to the previous year. Buenos Aires, Argentina, saw a 148% increase, while Osaka, Japan, and Copenhagen, Denmark, experienced jumps of 137% and 112%, respectively. Other notable increases included Curaçao at 101%, Aruba at 71%, and Lisbon, Portugal, at 61%.

Tourism organizations are also reporting similar trends. The Japan National Tourism Organization noted a 23% increase in Canadian visitors from January to June, with 335,400 Canadians traveling to Japan compared to 272,264 during the same period in 2024. Turismo de Portugal reported a 6.5% rise in Canadian visitors from January to May this year.

Flight options, promotional materials, and exchange rates are influencing travel decisions. Andrew Stafford, a manager at Flight Centre in Vancouver, explained that many clients are avoiding short trips to the U.S. and instead are planning longer vacations to more distant locations. "People are still traveling at the same rate they were. They're just choosing different destinations," he said.

The Marival Group, a Canadian-owned hotel chain in Mexico, has also seen an increase in Canadian visitors since the trade war began. Salvador Ramos, vice president of sales and marketing, reported a 5% to 6% increase, translating to about 15,000 more Canadians at their resorts. He anticipates further growth as the high season approaches in November and is actively marketing to Canadian travelers.

Joan Allison from Windsor, Ontario, used to spend four months each year in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. However, she has changed her travel habits due to political factors and border security concerns. "The threats to our economy are massive. And so for that reason alone, I have no desire to spend any money in the United States," she said. Allison has booked a trip to Portugal for next year and is considering other international destinations.

Wayne Smith, director of the Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Research at Toronto Metropolitan University, noted that Canadians prefer to travel to places where they feel safe and welcome. He pointed out that rising costs in U.S. cities like Las Vegas and Los Angeles, combined with political tensions, could lead to a long-term decline in Canadian tourism to the U.S. "You add in the social political stuff … and then you add in things like the immigration permits and the potential of dealing with border security and ICE, this is probably not going to be a short-term pattern for the U.S.," Smith said.