Political Tensions Impact Travel: Nearly Half of Canadians Less Likely to Visit the U.S. in 2025

February 11, 2025

With ongoing political tensions and shifting Canada-U.S. relations, nearly half of Canadian travellers (48%) say they are less likely to visit the U.S. in 2025 compared to last year. In contrast, only one in ten (10%) say they are more likely to travel south, while 43% report no change in their U.S. travel intentions.

Who is Most Likely to Reduce their Travel to the U.S.?

  • Older Canadians (55+) are the most likely to cut back on U.S. travel (52% vs. 46% among 35-54 and 41% among 18-34).
  • Ontarians (52%) are the most likely to reduce their U.S. travel, while residents of Quebec (41%) and Atlantic Canada (42%) are the least likely to change their plans.
  • Higher-income households ($100K+) are significantly more likely to reduce their travel to the U.S. (57% vs. 49% among $60K-<$100K and 37% among <$60K).

For those avoiding U.S. trips, domestic Canadian travel is the top alternative. Six-in-ten (61%) of those less likely to visit the U.S. plan to explore Canada instead – 30% will travel within their home province, while 31% will visit another province within Canada. Meanwhile, one-third (33%) are planning to travel outside North America, and 6% plan to skip travel altogether. Manitoba/Saskatchewan residents are the most likely to travel within Canada instead (75%), while those from British Columbia and Quebec are more likely to travel to a country outside North America.

Methodology

This web survey was conducted from January 31 to February 3, 2025, with 1,553 Canadians aged 18 or older, randomly recruited from LEO’s online panel. A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey.

For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size yields a margin of error no greater than ±2.49%, (19 times out of 20) for the Canadian sample.

Related Posts

Leger Announces the Acquisition of Element54

Montreal, November 19, 2025 – Leger is pleased to announce its acquisition of Element54, a leading Canadian firm specializing in advertising research.  This marks Leger’s 15th acquisition, a significant milestone in the company’s continued growth. Leger is now the...

Alberta Teachers’ Strike Divides, but Public Sides with Educators

In the wake of the Alberta teachers strike, Leger surveyed Albertans between October 31 and November 2 to assess how the public views the government’s handling of the dispute, the use of emergency legislation, and the outlook for labour relations in the province. The...

Federal Voting Intentions Canada: Liberals Hold the Lead

A few months after the last federal election, Leger conducted a survey on behalf of Postmedia to assess federal voting intentions, satisfaction with the Carney government, and public sentiment on key national issues.Some of the Key Highlights Liberals Maintain Their...

Get the latest in your inbox

Stay up to date on cutting-edge research, news and more.