After a year and a half of reduced travel to the U.S., some Canadians are starting to venture south again.
In June, the number of Canadian residents returning from the U.S. increased by 3.2% compared to the same period last year, as per the latest Statistics Canada report.
This marks the third consecutive month of growth in inbound travel from the U.S. by Canadians, following a 9.5% rise in May and a 1.4% increase in April.
The rise in travel was mainly driven by more Canadians returning via car, with a 5.2% increase in car travel from the U.S. compared to the previous June. In contrast, return travel by air decreased by 3.8% year-over-year in June.
Despite the slight increase in car travel, Canadian travel to the U.S. is still far below pre-2024 levels when tensions between the countries led to a significant drop in travel. This indicates that while there is optimism in the U.S. tourism sector, a full recovery may take time.
Compared to June 2024, Canadian return travel from the U.S. last month was down by a substantial 28.7%, showcasing the impact of past geopolitical issues on travel patterns.
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Wayne Smith, director of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Research, views the recent uptick in travel as a step towards normalization rather than a complete shift back to pre-crisis travel habits.
Smith believes that the current rate of travel to the U.S. by Canadians reflects a new normal, with visitation levels remaining lower than before for an extended period.
Canadian travel to the United States has dropped since President Donald Trump retook office earlier this year. Andrew Chang breaks down the numbers to explain