Travel to the United States by Canadians has dropped sharply this year, even as overall vacation travel continues to rise, according to major travel companies.
Flight Centre Canada says travel to U.S. destinations is down 40 per cent compared with last year, a decline it attributes to ongoing trade tensions, tariffs and broader economic factors. The company expects the trend to continue into the new year.
“We’re down 40 per cent year over year for travel into the U.S.,” said Anita Emilio, general manager of Flight Centre Canada. “More Canadians are now choosing to travel to Europe or down south.”
Despite the downturn in U.S. travel, Canadians are not staying home. Both Flight Centre and Toronto-based G Adventures report strong growth in international travel, particularly to the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. Many travellers are opting to go farther and stay longer.
“While our bookings to the U.S. are down, it doesn’t mean Canadians are travelling less,” said Jenna English of G Adventures. “It just means they are choosing different destinations.”
According to Flight Centre, interest in several destinations has surged compared with last year. Turks and Caicos saw the largest increase at 350 per cent, followed by Saint Lucia at 116 per cent and Japan at 88 per cent. Other popular destinations showing growth include Colombia (+75 per cent), Switzerland (+64 per cent), Barbados (+61 per cent), Vietnam (+56 per cent), Curaçao (+53 per cent), Germany (+43 per cent) and Australia (+32 per cent).
Value for money is a key factor driving these choices, Emilio said, with many Canadians willing to travel longer distances if their dollar stretches further once they arrive.
“We’ve seen an incredible increase to somewhere like Japan where the Canadian dollar does stretch a bit further,” she said. “Places like Australia as well. It’s quite a flight, but the Canadian dollar is stronger than the Australian dollar, so Canadians feel they can really stretch their dollar once they get there.”
G Adventures said its most popular destinations for next year include Peru, Morocco, Costa Rica, Thailand and Japan. The company has also noticed travellers increasingly seeking quieter travel periods to avoid crowds.
“People are trying to avoid over-tourism,” English said. “They are choosing to travel in quieter times, such as spring and fall, when it’s less busy and often more affordable.”
Another notable trend is the rise in solo travel, particularly among women, who prefer travelling independently while still being part of an organized tour group.
“We are really popular with solo travellers,” English said. “Female solo travellers are our largest demographic.”
Both companies reported that most destinations are fully booked for the upcoming holiday season. However, many Canadians are now reserving sun destinations for January, February and March, while longer trips to Europe and Asia are being booked well in advance for next summer.