Canadian travel to the U.S. increased by 9.5% in May 2026 compared to May 2025 [1].
The rebound follows a prolonged period of declining tourism that began after a travel boycott was launched in December 2024. This shift suggests the momentum of the boycott may be fading as residents return to crossing the border.
Data indicates that May 2026 was only the second month since the start of the boycott in late 2024 that Canadian travel to the U.S. was higher than the previous year [1]. This follows a smaller increase in April 2026, when visits rose by 1.4% compared to April 2025 [2].
For 15 months, the region saw a consistent streak of declining visits from Canadian residents. The recent uptick represents a significant break from that trend, marking a potential shift in consumer sentiment toward U.S. destinations.
Additional data on border activity shows Canadian residents made 1.7 million return trips by motor vehicle back into Canada from the U.S. [3].
While the boycott began as a coordinated effort to reduce economic activity in the U.S., the recent numbers indicate a gradual return to pre-boycott travel patterns. The contrast between the modest April growth and the sharper May increase highlights an accelerating trend in cross-border movement.
“May 2026 Canadian visits to the United States increased by 9.5% compared with May 2025”
The reversal of a 15-month decline in Canadian tourism suggests that the economic and social drivers of the 2024 travel boycott are weakening. As year-over-year growth accelerates from 1.4% in April to 9.5% in May, the data indicates a normalization of cross-border travel that could signal a broader shift in diplomatic or consumer relations between the two nations.
