VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Traveling from Vancouver to Seattle to cheer on the Toronto Blue Jays has been a beloved pastime for Peter Mulholland and his spouse, but their plans have changed this year.
Mulholland’s frustrations began with U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposals for significant tariffs on Canadian goods and his comments about Canada potentially becoming the 51st state. The tipping point for him came when Trump characterized Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a dictator.
“We were starting to get wary,” said the 69-year-old, who is semiretired. “The tariffs he’s trying to impose will negatively affect both nations, and that will become apparent eventually, but the consequences will hit us harder.”
He is among a rising number of Canadians opting to avoid U.S. vacations this year.
McKenzie McMillan, a travel consultant with a Vancouver travel agency, mentioned that several of his clients have canceled trips they had previously scheduled. February is typically a busy season for this retail travel agency, which caters to both corporate and high-end leisure travelers, particularly as Canadians begin organizing their spring break holidays.
“We’ve observed a total slowdown in any new inquiries or interest in traveling to the U.S.,” McMillan remarked. “There have been no requests for travel to the U.S. for about two weeks.”
Currently, the Canadian dollar is approximately 30 cents weaker than the U.S. dollar; however, McMillan indicated that political tensions play a significant role in Canadians’ reluctance to visit the U.S.
“The primary reason for the current avoidance of the U.S. is linked to the tariffs and remarks about Canada becoming the 51st state,” he explained. “The talk of becoming the 51st state seems to be influencing people’s decisions not to travel there.”
According to the U.S. Travel Association, Canada remains the leading source of international visitors to the U.S. In 2024, Canadian tourists made 20.4 million visits, contributing $20.5 billion to the U.S. economy and supporting around 140,000 jobs.
The association warns that even a 10% decline in Canadian travel could lead to 2 million fewer visits, a loss of $2.1 billion in spending, and 14,000 job cuts.
The five U.S. states most frequently visited by Canadians are Florida, California, Nevada, New York, and Texas.
Air Canada, the largest airline in Canada, has stated that it is not yet observing a decrease in travel to the U.S., but is closely monitoring the situation.
“We foresee the possibility of a slowdown,” noted Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s executive vice president for revenue and network planning, during a recent quarterly earnings discussion.
Similarly, WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, reported a possible 25% decrease in demand for U.S.-bound flights in the early weeks of the year compared to the previous year.
“We believe this trend is at least partially connected to currency exchange rates; however, we are actively assessing and collaborating with the Canadian government on understanding the potential effects of tariffs, and we will maintain operations in response to demand,” the airline stated in an email.
McMillan also predicted that the cruise industry might notice decreasing participation from Canadians, particularly for trips departing from ports such as Los Angeles, Houston, or Miami.
He has observed a trend of Canadians shifting their travel preferences towards destinations like Mexico, Europe, Iceland, and Asia.
Mulholland shared that he and his wife are still undecided about their holiday plans this year.
“We’re likely to embark on a road trip and explore areas of British Columbia that we have yet to visit,” he concluded.
