A recent survey indicates that fewer retired Canadians are planning to travel to the southern United States this winter. The Travel Health Insurance Association (THIA) of Canada conducted the survey, revealing a significant decline in the number of Canadians aged 61 and older, often referred to as the "snowbird" generation, who intend to escape the cold by heading south.

The survey, carried out by The Harris Poll in late September, asked participants about their likelihood of traveling to the U.S. between October 2023 and March 2024, which encompasses Canada’s coldest months. Only 26% of respondents expressed a likelihood of making the trip, a drop of 37% from the previous winter when 41% indicated they would travel.

The decline is most pronounced among Baby Boomers, with just 10% planning a trip to the U.S., marking a 66% decrease from last year’s 31%. In contrast, younger Canadians are still inclined to travel. The survey noted that 45% of individuals aged 18-34, including 44% of Generation Z, still plan to visit the U.S., a decrease of only 18% from last year.

Several factors may be influencing this shift. In April, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) introduced new requirements for non-citizens staying in the U.S. for 30 days or longer. This includes the Alien Registration Form, which mandates registration, photographs, and fingerprints. Additionally, starting December 26, new regulations from the Department of Homeland Security will require all non-residents, including Canadians, to be photographed upon entry for facial recognition purposes. This change affects minors under 14 and seniors over 79, who were previously exempt from some biometric requirements.

The THIA survey also highlighted changing preferences among Canadians regarding winter travel destinations. Of the 53% of respondents planning to leave their home province this winter, only 12% indicated the U.S. as their primary destination, a decrease of 23% from the previous year. Instead, more Canadians are choosing to travel to other provinces within Canada or to the Caribbean, with an 11% increase in those opting for Canadian destinations and 27% selecting the Caribbean.

The survey revealed that among those still committed to traveling to the U.S. in the next six months, 13% are doing so for leisure, while another 13% are visiting family or friends. Only 7% cited escaping the cold or taking advantage of affordable travel as reasons for their trip.

When asked about barriers to travel, 40% of respondents mentioned political tensions with the U.S., while 24% pointed to global uncertainties. Cost was the most significant concern, with 41% citing it as a barrier, followed by 29% who noted unfavorable exchange rates. Other concerns included personal safety (20%) and potential travel disruptions (13%).

The survey was conducted from September 24 to 26 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5%, 19 times out of 20.