Canadian visits to the U.S. fall amid political tensions

New data shows a steep drop in Canadian visits to the United States, hitting border towns and tourism revenue.

Canadian Travel to the United States Dips Sharply

Canadian residents made 1.7 million return motor vehicle trips into Canada from the United States in July, down about 37 percent from July 2024 according to Statistics Canada. In Bluff Point Golf Resort near the border, owner Paul Dame says the parking lot has shifted from 20–30 cars a day from Quebec or Ontario to just one or two, a sign of broader strain on the cross-border economy.

The decline mirrors a wider slowdown. From January through May, Canadians made just over 7 million visits to the United States, roughly 17 percent fewer than the same period last year, according to the International Trade Administration. The U.S. Travel Association notes the trend aligns with Canadian data and points to the two countries’ fragile political climate and a strong U.S. dollar as possible contributors. Maine has been trying to counter the slip with efforts to lure travelers, including new welcome road signs reading Bienvenue, Canadiens. Tourism officials caution that while activity is still happening, revenue is increasingly strained for small operators and tour businesses along the border.

Cross-border travel is a telling barometer of both economic health and political mood. When a neighbor becomes a higher risk than a higher reward, ordinary trips turn into tough business decisions for shop owners and tour operators. The data suggests that even as travel resumes in some months, confidence and affordability shape choices. If tensions persist, communities that rely on Canadians as a steady customer base could face slower growth, higher vacancy rates, and delayed investments. Policy responses that stabilize exchange rates, tariffs, and softening rhetoric could help restore momentum, but they will require coordinated signaling from both governments.

Highlights

Cross-border ties will shape travel patterns in the months ahead.