VANCOUVER, British Columbia — For Peter Mulholland and his spouse, journeying from Vancouver to Seattle for a Toronto Blue Jays game has been a cherished custom. However, this year marks a departure from that tradition. Mulholland expressed his growing disappointment with U.S. politics, particularly President Donald Trump’s threats of imposing significant tariffs on Canadian imports and his controversial remarks about the potential statehood of Canada.
“We began to feel uneasy,” shared the 69-year-old semi-retiree from Vancouver. “The tariffs he’s advocating will negatively impact both countries, and it will become clear in due time, but we will feel the effects more acutely.”
An increasing number of Canadians are opting to forgo their trips to the U.S. this year, following Mulholland’s lead. According to McKenzie McMillan, a travel advisor at a Vancouver-based agency, several clients have chosen to cancel already scheduled trips. Despite February typically being a bustling period for travel agencies as Canadians prepare for spring vacations, McMillan reported a significant decline in interest for U.S. travel. “For about two weeks now, I haven’t received any new travel requests to the United States,” he noted.
Although the Canadian dollar currently operates at about 30 cents lower than the American dollar, McMillan attributes the primary deterrent to the political climate rather than economic factors. “The bulk of the avoidance of U.S. travel appears rooted in reactions to tariffs and the comments on Canada potentially becoming the 51st state,” he remarked.
The U.S. Travel Association identifies Canada as the leading source of international visitors to the United States. In 2024, around 20.4 million Canadian visits were reported, contributing approximately $20.5 billion to the U.S. economy and bolstering 140,000 jobs. An anticipated 10% decrease in Canadian tourism could translate to 2 million fewer visits and a staggering $2.1 billion loss in spending with a potential 14,000 jobs affected.
Typically, Canadians flock to states like Florida, California, Nevada, New York, and Texas. Air Canada, the nation’s largest airline, has indicated that they have not yet observed a decline in travel to the U.S., yet they remain vigilant about the evolving circumstances. “We are anticipating a possible slowdown,” remarked Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s executive vice-president for revenue and network planning, during a recent quarterly earnings call.
Conversely, WestJet, the second-largest airline in Canada, reported about a 25% drop in demand for U.S.-bound flights in the early weeks of this year compared to the same period last year. In a statement, they suggested that while currency exchange rates play a role, they are jointly examining the potential impacts of tariffs with the Government of Canada.
McMillan also mentioned that the cruise sector might face similar challenges as Canadians reconsider journeys departing from Los Angeles, Houston, or Miami. He noted a notable shift in preference towards destinations like Mexico, Europe, Iceland, and Asia among Canadian travelers.
As for Mulholland, he and his wife remain undecided about their travel plans this year. “We are likely going to embark on a road trip to explore parts of British Columbia that we haven’t yet discovered,” he said.
