62% of Canadians Plan to Avoid the U.S. for at Least the Next Year Amid Political Tensions
March 7, 2025
Over the past few weeks, tensions between Canada and the United States have intensified, spurred by President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs and the constant threat of annexation. This heated political landscape has ignited a surge in Canadian patriotism, which is now expressing itself in a very tangible way: through consumer behaviour. In other words, shopping choices, travel plans, and overall spending patterns are no longer driven simply by cost or convenience—political considerations are increasingly at play.
This article delves into new data highlighting how the rising wave of national pride is reshaping Canadian travel intentions in 2025, with many opting to stay within Canadian borders rather than heading south.
As March break, family getaways, and summer plans draw near, this sea change in behaviour presents a pivotal moment for Canada’s domestic travel market. Tourism boards, local businesses, and destinations across the country have a timely opportunity to harness this sentiment, encouraging Canadians to spend their vacation dollars at home and reinforcing a spirit of unity in an era of heightened political and economic tensions.
U.S. Travel Intentions in 2025
One-third (33%) of Canadians had plans to visit the United States in 2025.
Younger Canadians were more likely to have U.S. travel intentions, with 42% of those aged 18-29 and 41% of those aged 30-44 either having booked or planning to book a trip. Families with children were also more inclined to travel to the U.S., with 51% of those with children under 12 and 46% with children aged 12-17 planning a trip.
However, as the tensions between the U.S. and Canada have escalated, 56% of those who initially planned to visit the U.S. have either canceled or changed their travel plans. Of these, 39% have shifted to other countries (20%) or different locations in Canada (19%), while 17% have postponed or canceled their U.S. trips. Younger Canadians (63% of those 18-29 and 62% of those 30-44) and those with children (64% with kids under 12 and 72% with kids 12-17) are more likely to have altered their plans. In contrast, older Canadians are more likely to continue with their U.S. travel plans, with 32% of those 60+ planning to proceed despite the political climate.
Political Climate’s Influence on U.S. Travel
The current political and economic climate between Canada and the U.S. has made traveling to the U.S. less appealing for many Canadians. 66% of Canadians indicated that the situation has made the U.S. a less attractive travel destination. This sentiment is particularly pronounced among older Canadians, with 78% of those aged 60+ noting that U.S. travel has become less appealing. This aligns with our research, which shows that older Canadians express heightened concerns regarding the state of Canada-U.S. relations.
The perception of former U.S. President Donald Trump has a major impact on these views. Among those with a negative opinion of Trump, 86% said the current political climate has made the U.S. less appealing, with 59% actively avoiding travel to the U.S..
Reasons for Reduced Appeal to the U.S.
Those who find the U.S. less appealing as a travel destination cite a variety of reasons:
- 48% cite concerns about the political climate or leadership, particularly under Trump
- 46% mention disagreement with U.S. policies
- 43% express a preference for supporting Canadian businesses and destinations
- 43% are also concerned about the weak Canadian dollar
The combination of political concerns, disagreements with U.S. policies, and economic factors like the weak Canadian dollar is driving many Canadians to view the U.S. as a less appealing travel destination.
Older Canadians are more concerned about these factors, with 60% of those aged 60+ worried about the U.S. political climate (compared to 34% of those aged 18-29) and 53% concerned about the weak Canadian dollar (vs. 30% of younger Canadians). Those with a negative view of Trump are especially likely to cite concerns about the U.S. political climate (54%) and policies (51%).
Impact of Tariffs on Travel Intentions
Tariffs are another factor affecting Canadians’ travel plans. While tariffs had not been implemented at the time of the survey, 28% of Canadians said they would still have concerns about traveling to the U.S. even without them. On the other hand, 24% of respondents said the removal of tariffs might make them more likely to visit, but that the political will still influence their decision. Only 18% of Canadians noted that, if tariffs were not implemented, they would be more likely to visit the U.S..
Now that tariffs have been implemented, they are likely to further discourage travel to the U.S., with many Canadians already expressing hesitation even before their enforcement.
Avoiding U.S. Travel: Short and Long-Term Plans
A significant proportion of Canadians plan to avoid traveling to the U.S.. 71% of respondents indicated that they intend to avoid the U.S. for at least the next six months. Additionally, 23% of Canadians plan to refrain from U.S. travel for more than a year, with 28% of those aged 60+ and 27% of those who view Trump negatively among the most likely to take this approach. A further 32% said they would consider returning to the U.S. once the current situation improves, though no specific timeline was provided. This sentiment was particularly strong among those aged 60+ (39%) and those with a negative impression of Trump (36%).
The significant number of Canadians planning to avoid U.S. travel highlights the growing impact of political tensions on travel decisions, with many indicating they will only return once the situation improves, reflecting a deeper shift in attitudes toward cross-border relations.
2025 Travel Intentions: A Shift Toward Domestic Travel
Looking ahead to 2025, only 9% of Canadians intend to visit the United States, suggesting a significant decline in U.S.-bound travel. In contrast, domestic travel is more appealing, with 44% planning to travel to provinces outside their home province, 38% intending to travel within their home province, and 10% considering a staycation. European travel is also a popular option, with 22% of Canadians planning to visit Europe – particularly those aged 18-29 (31%). Notably, 20% of Canadians do not plan to travel at all in 2025.
This shift in travel preferences highlights a broader trend of Canadians opting for local destinations, further distancing themselves from U.S. travel due to ongoing political and economic concerns.
THE UPSHOT
In the past, calls to “buy Canadian” and support local might have felt more like patriotic slogans than genuine catalysts for change. But this time, something is different. The tension with the U.S. – symbolized most starkly by the tariffs – has sparked genuine anger and a sense of betrayal among many Canadians. These emotions run deeper than mere inconvenience or raised eyebrows at the news; for a significant segment of the population, there’s now an unmistakable feeling of “enough is enough.”
This emotional undercurrent is shifting travel and buying patterns in ways we haven’t seen before. It’s not just feel-good rhetoric: Canadians are breaking old habits and forming new ones, motivated by something far more powerful than a good deal or a chance to earn loyalty points. Many Canadians now see their spending as a statement, whether that means choosing a cottage weekend in Ontario over a shopping trip across the border or picking local vendors instead of U.S.-based retailers.
It’s rare to witness such a profound shift in consumer sentiment. Yet in this moment, Canadians are re-examining their everyday choices – from where to vacation to which brands they trust – and these decisions are fueled by deeply felt emotions. For Canadian tourism operators and DMOs, this is both a challenge and a remarkable opportunity: to meet consumers’ growing desire for authentic, homegrown experiences, and to solidify a new habit of supporting local that could endure long after the current tensions fade.
METHODOLOGY
The survey was conducted with 1,500 Canadian adults from February 20 to 25, 2025. A random sample of panelists were invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. These partners are typically double opt-in survey panels, blended to manage out potential skews in the data from a single source.
The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +/- 2.53%, 19 times out of 20.
The data were weighted according to census. data to ensure that the sample matched Canada’s population according to age, gender, educational attainment, and region.
This survey was paid for by Abacus Data.
Abacus Data follows the CRIC Public Opinion Research Standards and Disclosure Requirements that can be found here: https://canadianresearchinsightscouncil.ca/standards/
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