The variety of Canadians travelling to the USA saw a “steep” drop last month in comparison with a yr in the past, with Statistics Canada noting it’s the third consecutive month of year-over-year declines.
The information, launched Thursday, confirmed that the variety of Canadians returning dwelling by automotive from the U.S. totalled 1.5 million in March of this yr, which the company says quantities to a 31.9-per cent decline from the identical month in 2024.
A decline in Canadians getting back from the U.S. was additionally seen by these travelling by aircraft, with 719,500 journeys made to the U.S. — a 13.5-per cent decline from final yr.
Previously few months, extra Canadians have chosen to not journey to the U.S. with the explanations amid the nation’s menace of tariffs in opposition to Canada, the weakened Canadian greenback and President Donald Trump’s repeated feedback about making its northern neighbour the “51st state.”
“There’s a number of resentment, a number of anger,” stated Martin Firestone, president of Toronto-based insurance coverage agency Journey Safe Inc., in a current interview with The Canadian Press.
Final week, the federal authorities additionally issued a journey advisory for Canadians planning travel to the U.S. to “expect scrutiny,” together with the potential of extra questioning by U.S. customs and border officers, and the potential of getting your digital units examined.
It additionally suggested Canadians planning to remain for 30 days or extra to pay attention to the USA’ new rule set to take effect Friday that requires international nationals to register with the federal government in the event that they weren’t already registered upon entry into the nation.
A lawsuit has been launched by a number of U.S. advocacy teams over the rule, because it impacts extra than simply Canadian “snowbirds” however many residing within the U.S. as nicely.
The drop in journey has not gone unnoticed by U.S. politicians, both, with several members of Congress who characterize northern border districts of the U.S. Home Committee on Methods and Means saying Wednesday they’ve seen declines in Canadian tourism since Trump’s tariffs and annexation threats started.
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These members inspired U.S. Commerce Consultant Jamieson Greer to pursue negotiations that strengthen that cross-border relationship.
Nevertheless, some U.S. officers warning the weakened Canadian loonie might clarify the drop in journey.
“It’s enterprise as regular right here,” stated Mike Niezgoda, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Safety in New York state, in an interview with The Canadian Press. “There’s no distinction … So long as you’ve bought your paperwork, you’re tremendous.
“My buddies in Fort Erie, they’re going, ‘I actually can’t go to the mall as a result of our greenback is simply not that beneficial at this level,’” he stated.
The loonie has hovered round 70 cents US for the previous few months. However it was in comparable territory in December — earlier than the tariff rhetoric ratcheted up — and Canadians took seven per cent extra automotive journeys year-over-year to the U.S. that month, StatCan knowledge suggests.
Individuals might not be motivated by the higher mileage their bucks get them up north. The variety of automotive journeys to Canada by U.S. residents in March fell practically 11 per cent from a yr earlier, the second straight month of year-over-year declines.
Though Canadians appear to be delay on travelling to the U.S., StatCan knowledge exhibits their emotions in direction of different nations aren’t as lukewarm.
The variety of Canadians who made return journeys by air from nations not together with the U.S. elevated by 9 per cent in comparison with final yr.
— with information from The Canadian Press and International Information’ Sean Boynton
© 2025 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
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