Canadian travel to the U.S. rose slightly in April 2026, marking the first year-over-year gain in 15 months [6].
This uptick occurs amid a sustained boycott of U.S. goods and travel driven by political tensions. While the numbers show a marginal increase, analysts said the trend is not an indicator of a broader recovery in bilateral tourism.
Reports on the exact growth vary. One source said that Canadian visits to the U.S. rose one percent in April 2026 compared to April 2025 [1], while another reported the increase was 1.4% [2]. Despite this small gain, travel to the U.S. remains down about 30% from pre-boycott levels [3].
The boycott continues to exert significant influence over Canadian consumer behavior. Data shows that 82% of Canadians support boycotts of U.S. goods and travel [4]. This sentiment has led many residents to avoid crossing the border for over a year.
The impact of this shift is evident in historical comparisons. Canadian return trips to the U.S. fell 32% in March 2026 when compared to March 2024 [5]. This highlights a steep decline in the frequency of visits from those who previously traveled regularly.
While the U.S. has broken its losing streak, other destinations have seen more significant growth. Travelers from Canada have increasingly turned to Europe, and the Caribbean, to replace their traditional U.S. trips. The modest April increase suggests a slight easing of the trend, but not a reversal of the boycott's impact.
“Travel to the U.S. remains down about 30% from earlier levels.”
The marginal increase in April travel indicates that while the absolute floor of the travel slump may have been reached, the political drivers of the boycott remain potent. The significant gap between current travel volumes and pre-boycott levels suggests that Canadian tourism patterns have fundamentally shifted toward non-U.S. destinations.
