Canadians have boycotted traveling to the United States for more than a year, but new tourism data compiled by the Canadian government show more are choosing to head south of the border.May marked the second consecutive month since before President Donald Trump returned to office that more Canadians traveled to the U.S. than in the same month of the previous year, a sign that the long-term feud over tariffs and bilateral relations may be easing.Last month, 1.95 million Canadians returned by automobile and airplane from the U.S., up nearly 10% from a year earlier, according to a June 11 release from government website Statistics Canada. The growth was largely due to a 15% increase in automobile travel.
American and Canadian flags fly near the Palace Playland amusement park on April 2, 2025, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, a summer seaside resort town popular with French-Canadian tourists. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP Photo)
However, last month’s 1.95 million visits were still 29% lower than the number of Canadians who traveled here in May 2024.
The bilateral fallout
For years, the U.S. has been the No. 1 destination for Canadian travelers because of its warmer climate and proximity. In 2024, 75% of all Canadians who traveled globally visited the U.S., roughly 39 million, according to government statistics.
