Canadians skipping U.S. travel in favour of domestic, European destinations

Many Canadians are choosing to avoid the U.S. and opting for domestic and international destinations. CTV’s Tyler Fleming reports.

Rising political tensions, economic uncertainty and patriotic sentiment are changing how Canadians travel and where they’re spending their money.

From the airport to RV sales lots, more Canadians are skipping U.S. destinations this year, choosing to explore their own country or head overseas instead.

Recent political rhetoric from President Donald Trump about Canada becoming the ’51st state’, growing tariffs and a weak loonie have pushed some travellers to rethink traditional cross-border getaways.

“There’s a lot to discover in Canada,” said Bob Hammer, who’s travelling with his wife, M.J., by air to Halifax to visit family and take in some east coast sights. “The leadership down there is a deterrent to go.”

“Since Nov. 5, that decision was sealed in concrete for me,” said M.J. “Later this summer, we’re going to British Columbia. Our travel plans are in Canada completely east to west and Europe.”

Cross-border travel to the United States has declined, prompting airlines to adjust their schedules. Air Canada announced this week that it’s adding new non-stop flights from Ottawa to Nassau, Bahamas, and Montego Bay, Jamaica, starting in December.

Meanwhile, some U.S. states are attempting to stem the drop in Canadian visitors. California has launched a Canada-specific tourism campaign, offering up to 25 per cent off more than 1,000 hotels, attractions and activities through Expedia.

The campaign features a new video emphasizing Canada’s importance to the state’s tourism economy.

But those efforts may not be enough.

Lalit Sharma, a senior travel consultant with Hands Travel, says U.S. bookings are down and many clients are cancelling or postponing American trips in favour of Europe and the Caribbean vacations.

“There were a lot of calls for U.S. travel cancellations earlier, but that has dropped off now,” he said.

“The U.S. used to be one of our most popular destinations, but that’s changed. People continue to travel but it’s shifting. People want to go where they perceive everything is fine. Everybody who goes on a vacation wants to enjoy it and be safe and feel welcome.”

A new survey from the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada shows 88 per cent of Canadians would rather take road trips within the country than cross the border. Only eight per cent plan to drive into the U.S. this summer and more than half have cancelled previously planned trips.

That shift is creating a boom in domestic travel, especially by road.

At Ottawa Camping Trailers, a long-standing RV dealership, supply and repair shop, sales manager Devin MacLeod notes it’s seeing its highest sales in its 60 years of operation, driven by Canadians eager to explore the country on four wheels.

“You’re seeing a lot of families that want to find a spot locally to go camp and then we have some that are wanting to go to the east coast and travel around Canada and explore,” he said.

“Campers can be an affordable way to enjoy a vacation. Even within three hours of Ottawa, there are over 100 campgrounds to choose from. Whether it’s seasonal camping or just weekend trips, there are so many opportunities.”

The patriotic pivot is being welcomed by those who see it as a stand for sovereignty that also benefits Canada’s economy.

Tuesday’s meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Trump in Washington may help improve relations between the two neighbours, but for now, many Canadians are choosing to stay home and spend their dollars there too.