Canadian Travel to U.S. Rises as 28% Visited, Up From 23% Last Year

Written By: Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar is a Senior Journalist at Travel and Tour World with more than 10 years of experience in travel and tourism journalism. A post-graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, he combines strong research, industry knowledge and storytelling expertise to produce engaging, insightful and impactful travel news and fascinating feature stories.

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August 11, 2026 7:05 PM

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Canadian Travel to U.S. Rebounds Slowly as 28% Visit and 49% Plan Trips, Signalling a Tourism Recovery Despite Political, Trade and Safety Concerns That Continue to Influence Canadian Travellers

Canadian travel to the United States is showing a gradual recovery, with more travellers visiting and a stronger intention to travel south over the next year, although US government policies, trade tensions and political statements continue to influence tourism decisions.

Summary

• Canadian travel to the U.S. is showing a gradual recovery.
• 28% of Canadians visited the U.S. in six months.
• That figure increased from 23% a year earlier.
• Nearly half intend to visit the U.S. within 12 months.
• Political concerns still influence Canadian tourism decisions.

Canadian Travel to the U.S. Shows Signs of Recovery

Canadian travel to the United States is beginning to recover after a period of weaker demand, according to the latest tracking study from Longwoods International, with both recent visitation and future travel intentions moving higher. The findings suggest that the U.S. remains an attractive tourism destination for Canadians, but the recovery is taking place gradually as travellers continue to weigh the appeal of American destinations against concerns surrounding government policies and political developments.

The latest survey found that 28% of Canadian travellers visited the United States during the previous six months, compared with 23% in the same period a year earlier. Meanwhile, 49% said they intend to visit the U.S. during the next 12 months, increasing from 43% in April, providing an encouraging indication that travel demand could strengthen further if current sentiment continues to improve.

Why Are More Canadians Considering U.S. Travel Again?

The improvement in travel intentions indicates that the United States continues to hold significant appeal within the Canadian tourism market, despite the challenges that have affected cross-border travel sentiment. According to the research, 91% of Canadian travellers believe the United States is a destination with lots to see and do, representing the highest proportion recorded during the past 16 months and demonstrating the enduring strength of the country’s tourism proposition.

This perception is important for the wider U.S. travel industry because Canada represents a major international source market with strong geographic, cultural and economic links to American destinations. Cities, national parks, entertainment centres, shopping districts, theme parks, beaches and major events continue to provide reasons for Canadian visitors to consider U.S. travel, particularly as consumers reassess their plans for holidays and leisure trips.

Political Concerns Continue to Affect Tourism Decisions

Despite the improving figures, the research shows that political and policy concerns remain a significant barrier to Canadian travel to the United States. Fifty-six per cent of Canadian travellers said U.S. government policies, trade practices and political statements make them less likely to visit the country, although that figure has fallen from 63% a year earlier, suggesting that the negative influence of these factors is easing.

The decline is encouraging for tourism businesses because it indicates that fewer Canadian travellers are allowing political considerations to completely discourage U.S. travel. However, more than half of the surveyed travellers still identified government policy and political messaging as factors affecting their decisions, meaning destination marketers, tourism organisations and travel companies have an important role to play in maintaining confidence and communicating the practical value of visiting the United States.

U.S. Safety Perceptions Remain a Challenge

Safety perceptions represent another area where the United States continues to face difficulties among Canadian travellers, even as broader destination appeal improves. Only 37% of Canadian travellers described the United States as a safe place to visit, down from a peak of 42% recorded in April 2025, highlighting a disconnect between the country’s strong tourism appeal and perceptions surrounding the travel experience.

For the U.S. tourism industry, this sentiment is particularly relevant because perceptions of safety can influence destination selection, trip duration, spending and the likelihood of repeat visits. The findings suggest that while Canadians still recognise the breadth of attractions available across the United States, concerns about safety could continue to influence where they travel, how frequently they visit and whether they ultimately convert travel intentions into confirmed bookings.

Fewer Canadians Are Rejecting U.S. Travel Completely

One of the more positive findings from the study is the reduction in the proportion of Canadian travellers who have both avoided the United States recently and have no plans to visit. Fifty-one per cent of Canadian travellers said they had not travelled to the U.S. during the previous six months and had no intention of doing so, compared with 60% in July 2025.

The change suggests that the pool of Canadians completely disengaged from U.S. travel is becoming smaller, creating a potentially stronger foundation for future tourism recovery. Although the majority in this category still represents a substantial challenge, the nine-percentage-point decline indicates that attitudes are becoming less restrictive and that some travellers who previously rejected U.S. trips may now be reconsidering their options.

What Does the Recovery Mean for U.S. Tourism?

The gradual recovery in Canadian travel could provide a valuable boost for destinations and tourism businesses across the United States, particularly those that traditionally depend on Canadian visitors. A stronger Canadian market can support airlines, airports, hotels, restaurants, attractions, retailers, car rental companies and local tourism operators, creating benefits that extend well beyond individual destination gateways.

The recovery could also become increasingly important as international tourism markets remain highly competitive and destinations seek to attract travellers with strong spending potential and relatively easy access. Canada’s proximity to the United States gives American tourism stakeholders an important advantage, while established road, rail and air connections make cross-border travel practical for both short breaks and longer holidays.

Longwoods International Records a Gradual Shift

Amir Eylon, President and CEO of Longwoods International, described the latest movement as an improvement, although he stressed that Canadian travel to the United States is recovering slowly. The research indicates that the direction of travel is increasingly positive, with recent visitation rising, future intentions strengthening and the share of travellers completely rejecting U.S. trips declining compared with last year.

The survey was conducted from 9 to 14 July 2026, using a national sample of 1,000 Canadian adults aged 18 and over drawn randomly from a consumer panel. The sample was designed to represent Canadian demographics across age, gender and province, giving the findings a broad national perspective on travel sentiment.

Why Canadian Travellers Matter to the U.S. Tourism Economy

Canadian visitors have long been an important component of the U.S. travel and tourism market because of the scale of the neighbouring country, its geographical proximity and established cross-border travel relationships. The latest research reinforces the importance of Canadian consumers while also showing that maintaining positive sentiment can be just as important as promoting attractions, accommodation and travel experiences.

For destinations seeking to rebuild Canadian tourism demand, the message from the study is relatively clear: the underlying desire to experience the United States remains strong, but travellers are paying attention to broader circumstances surrounding their trips. Tourism organisations that emphasise compelling experiences, transparent information, accessibility and visitor confidence could be better positioned to convert rising travel intentions into actual arrivals.

A Positive Outlook for the Travel Industry

The latest figures provide a cautiously optimistic outlook for U.S. travel and tourism because several indicators are moving in the right direction simultaneously. More Canadians have recently visited the United States, more are planning to visit during the next year, fewer are completely ruling out U.S. travel and the proportion influenced negatively by government policies has declined.

For the travel industry, however, the recovery should not be interpreted as a complete return to normal demand because safety perceptions remain relatively weak and political concerns continue to affect more than half of Canadian travellers. The strongest opportunity may therefore lie in converting growing curiosity and renewed intent into actual bookings while rebuilding confidence through consistent destination communication and positive visitor experiences.

“These figures offer an encouraging signal for the U.S. travel and tourism industry because they show that Canadian travellers are gradually returning to the market despite a challenging period for cross-border sentiment. The rise in recent visits and the stronger intention to travel over the next 12 months demonstrate that the United States continues to possess powerful tourism appeal, supported by its diverse destinations, experiences and attractions. The decline in travellers completely rejecting U.S. travel is particularly significant because it suggests that attitudes are becoming more open. With continued efforts to strengthen visitor confidence, communicate compelling experiences and provide welcoming tourism environments, the U.S. can build on this gradual recovery and turn renewed Canadian interest into sustained travel demand.”— Vedika Keshan, Associate Editor, Travel And Tour World

What Happens Next for Canadian-U.S. Tourism?

The immediate outlook for Canadian travel to the United States is one of cautious improvement rather than a dramatic rebound, with the latest numbers showing a steady shift in traveller sentiment. If the gap between travel intention and actual visitation continues to narrow, U.S. destinations could see stronger Canadian tourism flows over the coming months, particularly during periods when leisure demand and cross-border travel traditionally increase.

The research ultimately presents a mixed but increasingly positive picture for the U.S. tourism industry, with destination appeal remaining exceptionally strong while policy, political and safety concerns continue to influence decisions. As 49% of Canadian travellers now express an intention to visit the United States within the next 12 months, the industry has a substantial opportunity to rebuild demand, strengthen confidence and reinforce the country’s position as a leading international travel destination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Canadians travelling to the United States more than last year?

Yes, the latest Longwoods International study found that 28% of Canadian travellers had visited the United States during the previous six months, compared with 23% a year earlier.

How many Canadians intend to visit the U.S.?

The survey found that 49% of Canadian travellers intend to visit the United States during the next 12 months, up from 43% in April 2026.

What is discouraging Canadians from visiting the U.S.?

Government policies, trade practices and political statements remain major concerns, with 56% saying these factors make them less likely to visit the United States.

Do Canadians still see the U.S. as an attractive tourism destination?

Yes. Ninety-one per cent of Canadian travellers said the United States is a destination with lots to see and do, the highest level recorded in the previous 16 months.

Do Canadians consider the United States safe?

Safety remains a concern, with 37% of Canadian travellers saying the United States is a safe place to visit, below the 42% peak recorded in April 2025.

What does the research indicate about future U.S. tourism?

The research points towards a slow but measurable recovery in Canadian travel, with improving visitation and stronger future intentions suggesting that the U.S. tourism market could regain additional Canadian demand if traveller confidence continues to improve.