Canadian Travel to U.S. Shows Steep Decline Amid Boycott Talk
Canadian visits to the United States fell by 22 percent in January 2026 compared to the same period last year, marking the 13th consecutive month of year-over-year decline. This ongoing slump has significantly impacted popular destinations like Florida, which lost approximately 500,000 Canadian visitors in 2025 alone.
Florida's Tourism Picture: A Mixed Bag
Despite the drop in Canadian tourism, Florida's overall visitor numbers tell a more nuanced story. According to data from Visit Florida, the state welcomed 143.3 million visitors in 2025, representing a slight 0.2 percent increase from 2024. Overseas visitation saw a more robust 4 percent growth, though numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Canadians accounted for 6.5 percent of all visitors to Florida in 2025, with 2.9 million trips recorded. While this represents a 14.7 percent decline from the previous year, it still makes Canada the state's leading international source of visitors.
U.S. States Ramp Up Efforts to Woo Canadian Travelers
In response to the declining numbers, tourism boards across the United States are intensifying their efforts to attract Canadian visitors back. Visit Florida hosted an event at Toronto's The Real Sports Bar on April 16 to promote travel to the state and reaffirm its commitment to the Canadian market.
"We're still fully committed to the Canadian market," said Erin Cramer of Visit Florida in an interview with Travelweek. "We've had such a great relationship with Canada, and we want to maintain that."
Florida isn't alone in these efforts. In March, Travel Nevada held three promotional events across Canada in Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary to encourage tourism and express gratitude to the Canadian market. This comes after Las Vegas recorded a 7.5 percent decline in visitors in 2025, with Canadian visits dropping by approximately 24 percent.
California's Charm Offensive
California launched a $5.2 million tourism campaign in April 2025 specifically aimed at welcoming Canadians to the state. Governor Gavin Newsom urged Canadians to visit in a promotional video, saying: "Sure, you-know-who is trying to stir things up back in D.C., but don't let that ruin your beach plans."
The city of Palm Springs displayed 40 red banners featuring the Canadian flag shaped as a heart, making it clear that the resort destination stands with Canada amid political tensions with the U.S. Despite these efforts, Visit California reported that visits from Canadians were down 18.6 percent year-over-year in February 2026.
The Broader Trend: Sustained Decline with Silver Linings
While the overall trend shows a sustained decline in Canadian travel to the United States, Canada remains the leading international market for several key destinations:
- Canada represented 89,295 visitors to California in February 2026, maintaining its position as the state's top international market
- Las Vegas welcomed 1.2 million Canadian visitors in 2025, representing roughly a quarter of all international arrivals
- The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is considering a $6 million, five-year marketing agreement specifically aimed at boosting Canadian travel to the city
The data reveals a complex picture: while Canadian travel to the U.S. has declined significantly, millions still make the journey south each year, prompting American destinations to redouble their marketing efforts to maintain this valuable tourism relationship.
