Canadians Cancel Summer Travel to U.S. Amid Annexation and Tariff Concerns

For 25 years, Rosalie Côté and her family spent their summers vacationing in the U.S. state of Maine. This year, however, they are staying home frustrated, like many Canadians, by former President Donald Trump’s threats of annexation and aggressive trade policies.

The United States has long been the top travel destination for Canadians, with the U.S. Travel Association reporting 20.4 million visits last year, contributing approximately $20.5 billion to the American economy and supporting 140,000 jobs. But that trend appears to be shifting. As Trump doubles down on protectionist policies and rhetoric about making Canada the 51st state, more Canadians are reconsidering their U.S. travel plans.

A Matter of Principle

“We don’t want to support the United States. It’s a matter of principle,” Côté explained.

Romane Gauvreau, another Canadian traveler, canceled both a mountain biking trip to Vermont and a planned family vacation to Maine.

“We don’t want to go to a place where democracy is in danger, where people suffer great injustices, and where people are being deported,” Gauvreau told AFP.

These sentiments are not isolated. A recent Abacus Data survey found that 56% of Canadians have altered or canceled their U.S. travel plans. Bookings to American destinations in February alone dropped by 40% compared to the same month last year, while 20% of existing reservations were canceled, according to travel agency Flight Centre Canada.

Even Canadian retirees, often referred to as “snowbirds,” who traditionally spend winters in the southern U.S., are reconsidering.

André Laurent, a retired civil servant, spent half of each of the past 22 years in Florida to escape the harsh Canadian winters. However, he says the political climate has made the U.S. “unpleasant” since Trump’s return to office in January. As a result, he sold his Florida home.

“I no longer felt welcome, and I even felt like I was betraying my country,” Laurent said. Five of the six Canadians who lived in his Florida gated community also decided to leave the U.S. permanently.

A Shift Towards Domestic and International Alternatives

Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose tenure ended amid Trump’s escalating trade threats, encouraged Canadians to show their patriotism by vacationing within the country. The slogan “Choose Canada” quickly gained traction on social media, with promotional campaigns highlighting the Rocky Mountains, Prince Edward Island, and other scenic destinations.

Travel agencies have taken note. Nuance du Monde, a Canadian travel company, announced it is no longer promoting trips to the U.S.

“We’re boycotting them in light of the current situation,” said company director Samy Hammadache, emphasizing the significant economic impact this could have on U.S. tourism.

Airlines are also adapting. Flair Airlines, responding to the downturn in demand for U.S. travel, has increased flights to Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.

“These decisions are based on market needs and demand,” said Kim Bowie, the airline’s director of communications.

Tourism professor Michel Archambault predicts that Canadian domestic tourism will reach record levels this year. A recent Leger survey found that six out of ten Canadians plan to vacation within Canada a notable shift from previous years.

Additionally, the weakening Canadian dollar has made U.S. travel less affordable, further discouraging cross-border trips.

For travelers like Côté, however, the decision is about more than economics. “We must spend money at home rather than with neighbors who play dirty tricks on us,” she said.