In light of recent political tensions between the United States and Canada, a growing number of Canadians are opting out of traveling to the U.S. for their vacations this year. The decision comes as a response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of imposing tariffs on Canadian imports and controversial remarks about Canada potentially becoming the 51st state.
One Vancouver-based travel agency has reported a significant decline in interest for U.S. travel among its clients. The agency, which specializes in corporate and premium leisure travel, noted a complete drop-off in new requests for trips to the United States over the past few weeks.
While the Canadian dollar's value is currently lower than the American dollar, politics seems to be the primary factor influencing Canadians' reluctance to travel south. The talk of tariffs and the 51st state proposal has solidified many Canadians' decisions to avoid U.S. travel.
The U.S. Travel Association has expressed concerns over the potential economic impact of reduced Canadian tourism. Canada is the largest source of international visitors to the U.S., with millions of visits annually contributing billions of dollars to the American economy and supporting thousands of jobs.
Major Canadian airlines, such as Air Canada and WestJet, are closely monitoring the situation. While Air Canada has not yet observed a decrease in U.S.-bound travel, WestJet has reported a 25% drop in demand for flights to the U.S. compared to the previous year.
As a result of this shift in travel preferences, the cruise industry may also experience repercussions, with Canadians exploring alternative destinations such as Mexico, Europe, Iceland, and Asia. Some Canadians, like Peter Mulholland and his wife, are considering domestic road trips within British Columbia as an alternative holiday plan.
