Canadian Visits to US Fall 42% by March 2026 as Rhetoric and Border Fears Bite
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · May 26
Canadian Visits to US Fall 42% by March 2026 as Rhetoric and Border Fears Bite
4 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · May 26
A University of Toronto analysis found a median 42% drop in Canadian visits to the United States in the year through March 2026 versus the prior 12 months.
Statistics Canada also showed 1.1 million Canadians returned from the U.S. in February 2026, down 13.25% from a year earlier and 28.2% from 2024.
Travelers cited Trump's rhetoric about Canada, immigration detentions, value differences and a weaker Canadian dollar, with many shifting trips to domestic destinations, Europe or Mexico.
The pullback is hitting U.S. tourism more broadly: foreign visitation fell 5.5% in 2025, led mainly by fewer Canadians, cutting inbound travel spending by 2.4%.
Some Canadians still travel south for business, sports or seasonal stays, and industry groups say events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup could lift demand if policy and sentiment improve.
The U.S. lost $8 billion as Canadians stay away. Can the 2026 World Cup mend this economic rift?
As Canadians favor Europe over America, is the world's closest travel relationship permanently shifting?