Canadian travel to the United States is plummeting as tensions over President Donald Trump's actions appear to fuel a growing boycott of America as a vacation destination.

According to aviation analytics provider OAG, forward bookings from Canada to the U.S. have fallen by more than 70 percent for every month through to the end of September compared to the same period last year. April has seen the steepest drop, with just 296,000 bookings, down 76 percent from 1.3 million.

Why It Matters

The steep decline spells difficulty ahead for the U.S. tourism sector, which heavily relies on travelers from Canada. The over 20 million visits made by Canadians to the country in 2024 contributed an estimated $20.5 billion to the U.S. economy and supported around 140,000 American jobs, per the U.S. Travel Association.

The statistic also suggests that the U.S. trade war—and the antipathy it has generated between the two historically friendly nations—will impact aspects of the economy beyond those directly affected by the imposition of tariffs.

What To Know

In addition to forward bookings, OAG observed a significant decline in the number of scheduled one-way flights between Canada and the U.S. over the past month. Between March 3 and March 24, airlines removed 320,000 seats from flights scheduled through October.

OAG noted that Canadians were "holding off on making reservations, likely due to ongoing uncertainty surrounding the broader trade dispute."

The tariffs implemented by Trump, both those directly targeting Canadian goods and those indirectly impacting the country—such as duties on steel and aluminum imports—have prompted threats and retaliatory measures from the Canadian government and regional officials.

Most recently, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney dubbed Trump's announcement of 25 percent tariffs on imported cars a "direct attack."

The growing hostility fueled by the trade war and Trump's repeated desire to make Canada a "51st state" have resulted in a widespread boycott of U.S. products. Known as the "buy Canadian" movement, officials have urged citizens to choose domestic alternatives to American goods. This movement has also impacted travel, which is evident in the decline in vehicle crossings and the recent drop in flight bookings.

Canada has also recently updated its travel advisories for visits to the U.S., highlighting concerns over new immigration regulations and potential risks for LGBTQ+ travelers.

What People Are Saying

OAG chief analyst John Grant: "For those that are still planning to travel there may be some airlines offering particularly cheap airfares over the next few months as they seek to stimulate demand but for the airlines it will be a nervous few months, especially as the traditional 'snowbird' market from Canada to the US could be badly impacted next year if the situation doesn't improve quickly."

Lana Payne, the national president of Unifor, Canada's largest private sector union, previously told Newsweek: "Canada has always considered itself to be America's best friend and closest ally, but that relationship has been severely damaged by the actions of President Trump."

"There is palpable anger over the multiple tariff threats and threats against our very sovereignty with the repeated assertation that Canada should become the 51st state," she added.

Donald Abelson, a professor of Political Science at McMaster University in Hamilton, told Newsweek: "Canadians are largely unified in their opposition to U.S. tariffs, and will continue to take retaliatory measures to keep the Trump administration in check."

A White House spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal: "Canadians will no longer have to worry about the inconveniences of international travel when they become American citizens as residents of our cherished 51st state."

Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in early February: "Now is also the time to choose Canada. There are many ways for you to do your part: It might be checking the labels at supermarkets and picking Canadian-made products; it might mean opting for Canadian rye over Kentucky bourbon, or foregoing Florida orange juice altogether; it might mean changing your summer vacation plans to stay here in Canada."

What Happens Next

Following the announcement of Trump's new tariffs on auto imports, which will take effect on April 3, Carney said he would convene a meeting to explore ways to "defend" his country, including possibly imposing additional retaliatory tariffs.