Canada Boycotts U.S. Travel Over Trade War, Costing American Tourism 2.1 Billion USD

Published on February 23, 2025

By: Paramita Sarkar

A growing Canadian travel boycott is sending shockwaves through the U.S. tourism industry, with estimates from the U.S. Travel Association indicating a $2.1 billion economic loss and 14,000 job cuts.

The decline follows tensions over U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports, prompting many Canadians to cancel trips to the U.S. and opt for alternative destinations.

The shift comes in response to former President Donald Trump’s proposal of a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, triggering economic uncertainty and a sharp dip in the Canadian dollar. Although the currency has since stabilized, frustration remains high.

According to a travel industry expert in Canada, many travelers are canceling their trips and opting for alternative destinations like Mexico, Brazil, and the Caribbean.

Schools, Businesses Shift Away from U.S. Travel

The boycott is not limited to individual travelers. Educational institutions and businesses are also making adjustments:

• Quebec’s Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, has advised 10th graders to reconsider their annual school trips to New York.
• Schools in Quebec and Manitoba have redirected student excursions to domestic destinations like Toronto instead of the U.S.
• Maple Leaf Tours, a Canadian travel company, reports a 40% drop in U.S. bookings, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses.
• Nancy Paquet, general secretary of Monts-et-Marées school service center, sent a letter to parents expressing concerns that tariffs could hurt Canadian jobs, making U.S. travel financially unsustainable for many families.

The Canadian government has not officially advised against travel to the U.S., but industry analysts and business leaders acknowledge the growing economic backlash.

Which U.S. States Are the Hardest Hit?

Florida is among the worst-affected states, as it has long been a top winter getaway for Canadian “snowbirds.” An estimated 1.3 to 1.5 million Canadians travel to Florida annually, spending nearly $975 million.

Other popular U.S. destinations, such as New York and California, are also seeing declines in Canadian visitors.

As tensions continue, the U.S. tourism industry faces mounting pressure, with states relying on Canadian visitors bracing for further losses. Whether the boycott continues depends on future trade negotiations and economic conditions between the two nations.