New figures released by Statistics Canada show that the downward trend in travel between Canada and the United States continued in May 2025. This decline marks the fifth consecutive month that we have seen a decline in Canadians returning from the United States, as well as Americans traveling to Canada.
Travel statistics between Canada and the United States
According to Statistics Canada, in May 2025, only 1.3 million Canadians returned to the country from the United States by car, a decrease of 38.1% compared to the same period last year. This was compared to a decrease of 35.2% in April, when the number of returnees reached 1.2 million.
Air travel has also been on a downward trend, with Canadians returning from the United States by air falling 24.2 per cent in May compared to a year earlier. The decline is more dramatic than April, which saw a 19.9 per cent drop.
Reduction in American travel to Canada
American travel to Canada has also declined. According to the statistics, only 1,044,700 car trips were made from the United States to Canada, a decrease of 8.4% compared to the previous year. American air travel to Canada also fell by 0.3% compared to 2024.
Reasons for the decline in travel between Canada and the US
- The imposition of new tariffs by the US government under President Donald Trump, which has affected the business and tourism environment.
- Rising political tensions and Trump’s controversial remarks about making Canada the “fifty-first state of America.”
- The weakening of the Canadian dollar against the US dollar has made travel more expensive for Canadians.
Impact on airlines and the tourism industry
The decline in demand for travel between the two countries has also forced airlines to reduce flight capacity. For example, Air Canada reduced its flights to destinations such as Florida, Las Vegas and Arizona by 10% in March 2025. Other carriers such as WestJet , Flair Airlines and Air Transat have taken similar measures.
Economic and social consequences
A continuation of this downward trend could have serious consequences for the tourism economies of both countries. The decline in travel will not only reduce tourism revenues, but will also negatively affect businesses related to transportation, hotels and restaurants. Experts warn that if this trend continues, we will see layoffs and reduced investment in these sectors.
Conclusion
The dramatic decline in travel between Canada and the United States in May 2025 is a wake-up call for the tourism and transportation industries. Economic and political factors have played a significant role in this trend, and its continuation could have wider implications for both countries.
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Source: caniranbh
