New data from Statistics Canada shows that fewer Canadians are travelling to the United States. The change suggests that travel patterns between the two neighboring countries may be shifting.
In February 2026, about 1.5 million Canadians returned from trips to the United States. This is 14.5% lower than the same month in 2025.
The decline is even more noticeable when compared with travel patterns before trade tensions between Canada and the US began. Statistics Canada says travel from the United States is now 31.5% lower than in February 2024.
So what does this mean for travel between the two countries?
In February 2026, there were about 4.0 million international arrivals to Canada, which is 2.1% lower than February last year.
Much of the decline happened because fewer Canadians travelled to the United States.
Why are fewer Canadians travelling to the US?
Travel experts say several factors could be influencing this trend. One possible reason is the growing trade tensions between Canada and the United States that began in early 2025. Economic uncertainty, currency changes, and travel costs may also play a role.
These issues may be encouraging Canadians to look for other travel destinations instead of the US.
How are Canadians travelling?
The decline in US travel can be seen in both air travel and land crossings.
Statistics Canada reports that Canadians returning from the United States by air fell 17.6% compared with last year.
At the same time, Canadians returning by automobile dropped 12.9%. For many Canadians, driving across the border has long been a common activity for shopping trips, vacations, or short holidays. However, the latest data suggests that these trips are becoming less frequent.
While trips to the United States have decreased, Canadians appear to be travelling more to other parts of the world.
In February 2026, 1.3 million Canadians returned from overseas trips, which is 7.2% higher than the same month last year.
This suggests that some Canadians may now be choosing destinations in Europe, Asia, or other international locations instead of the US.
For the second month in a row, the number of Canadians returning from overseas by air was higher than those returning from the United States by car. This is a notable change because cross-border road trips have traditionally been very common.
Are Americans still visiting Canada?
Yes, and the number of American visitors is actually increasing. In February 2026, about 959,600 trips to Canada were made by US residents, which is 6.1% t higher than the same month last year.
Many of these travelers entered Canada by car, while others arrived by air.
This increase is important because it marks the first growth after twelve months of decline in US visits to Canada.
What about tourists from other countries?
Canada is also seeing more visitors from overseas.
In February 2026, 288,500 travelers from overseas countries visited Canada, which is 10.5% higher than last year.
Most of these visitors arrived by plane. The growth suggests that Canada is attracting more international tourists beyond North America.
The latest figures suggest that travel patterns between Canada and the United States may be changing. Canadians appear to be travelling less frequently to the US while international tourism to Canada is growing.
These changes could have an impact on industries such as airlines, hotels, restaurants, and retail businesses that depend on tourism.
In simple terms, the new data shows that fewer Canadians are visiting the United States, while more Canadians are travelling overseas and more international visitors are coming to Canada. These changes could shape the future of tourism between Canada and its global partners.
Shahriena Shukri is a journalist covering business and economic news in Malaysia, providing insights on market trends, corporate developments, and financial policies. More about Shahriena Shukri.
