• Sharp Decline in Canadian Tourism to U.S.: In April 2025, Canadian travel to the U.S. plummeted significantly (land travel down 35.2%, air travel down 19.9%), with an overall 20% decline projected for the year, affecting at least nine key U.S. states.
• Multifaceted Reasons for Pullback: The downturn is fueled by a combination of factors including Canadian political backlash against U.S. policies, a growing tourism boycott, concerns over the U.S. political climate and safety, cultural discomfort, high travel costs, and regional issues like disaster recovery.
• Widespread Economic Impact Across U.S. States: Numerous states (including FL, NY, CA, OR, NC, ME, AZ, NV, AK) are experiencing significant negative economic consequences, such as empty hotels, struggling local businesses, and substantial losses in tourism revenue.
• Strained U.S.-Canada Travel Relations: The data indicates a serious “chill” in the traditionally strong travel relationship between the two countries, with Canadian travelers increasingly choosing alternative destinations, posing a long-term challenge for U.S. tourism.

A sharp and widespread decline in Canadian tourism to the United States was recorded in April 2025, with at least nine key states—North Carolina, Oregon, Florida, New York, Nevada, Arizona, California, Alaska, and Maine—reporting steep drops in visitor numbers. This alarming trend, characterized by a 35.2% decrease in Canadian land travel returning from the U.S. and a 19.9% fall in air travel compared to April 2024, signals a significant retreat in cross-border travel. Tourism Economics now projects an overall 20% decline in Canadian visits to the U.S. for the entire year, potentially costing billions in lost revenue and impacting local economies reliant on this traditionally strong inbound market.

The reasons for this dramatic downturn are multifaceted, stemming from mounting political backlash in Canada against U.S. policies, a growing tourism boycott movement, and rising disillusionment among Canadian travelers. Concerns cited include the current U.S. political climate, cultural discomfort, safety perceptions, dissatisfaction with immigration experiences, and economic pressures such as high U.S. travel costs. Specific regional issues, like the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina (which saw Asheville tourism collapse despite no direct downtown damage), have further compounded the problem in certain areas.

The impact is being felt acutely across the affected states. Florida experienced one of the most severe drops, with a reported 76% decrease in Canadian airline bookings in April, leading to mass cancellations and record-low occupancy rates in popular destinations. In Oregon, Portland estimates a roughly 20% overall drop in Canadian visitors, with tour operators noting a reluctance among leisure travelers.

Maine’s border towns saw a 38% decline in Canadian crossings, severely hurting local businesses. New York state is bracing for a potential $4 billion loss in tourism revenue, with Upstate border crossings down 22% and New York City projecting a loss of over 400,000 Canadian tourists in 2025. California is witnessing cancellations due to political and cultural unease, while Arizona’s “snowbird” population is shrinking. Even Alaska reports a quieter season in towns reliant on overland Canadian traffic.

This “seismic shift” has left hotels with empty rooms, tour operators struggling, and tourism boards scrambling to repair fractured relationships. While some areas, like Portland, are launching outreach initiatives to rekindle Canadian interest, the overall sentiment suggests a deeply strained travel relationship. Without significant changes in U.S. policy or perception, the recovery of Canadian tourism to its former levels appears uncertain, posing a serious economic challenge to numerous American communities.