Statistics Canada's latest report indicates that Canadian residents are continuing to avoid travel to the United States, while travel in the opposite direction is increasing. In February 2026, Canadian-resident return trips from the U. S. by car were down 13% year-over-year, and air travel saw a 17.6% decrease. Overall, return trips by air and car totaled 1.5 million, a 14.5% decrease compared to February 2025 and a 31.5% decrease compared to February 2024.
Conversely, U. S.-resident trips to Canada increased by 6.1% from the same month last year, reaching 959,600, marking the first increase after 12 consecutive months of declines. This suggests a shifting dynamic in cross-border travel patterns. The trend of Canadians opting for destinations other than the U. S. has been ongoing, with "overseas" destinations becoming more popular. In February 2026, a greater number of Canadian residents returned from overseas by air (1.3 million) than from the U. S. by car (1 million) for the second consecutive month.
Several factors contribute to this shift. Lingering trade tensions and tariffs imposed in early 2025 appear to have soured Canadians' desire to visit the U. S.. Concerns about border enforcement and the "Buy Canadian" movement may also be playing a role. According to FlightHub data, while the U. S. remains the most popular spring break destination for Canadians, its share has decreased slightly, with bookings to Mexico increasing. Furthermore, domestic travel within Canada has seen a significant surge, increasing by 89% in 2026 compared to 2025. As Canadians explore alternative destinations, the long-term impact on cross-border tourism remains to be seen.
