For the first time in eight months, the flow of visitors from the United States into Canada has reversed its downward trend, according to new data from Statistics Canada. The agency reported that October saw a modest but significant increase in trips made by U.S. residents to its northern neighbour.
A Reversal in Cross-Border Traffic
The latest figures show a clear shift. In October, U.S.-resident trips to Canada totalled 1,814,406. This represents a three per cent increase compared to the same month last year, when the number stood at 1,760,987. This uptick ends a consecutive eight-month period of declining or stagnant numbers, offering a positive signal for the tourism and border communities that rely on this traffic.
This increase in American visitors occurred alongside a continued decline in travel by Canadians heading south. The number of Canadian-resident return trips from the United States in October was 2,336,872, which is a substantial 26.3 per cent drop from the 3,170,986 recorded in October of the previous year. This ongoing trend suggests Canadians are still opting to avoid travel to the U.S. for the time being.
Strong Growth from Overseas Markets
While the U.S. market showed tentative recovery, travel from other parts of the world demonstrated much stronger growth. Statistics Canada reported that the number of trips to Canada by overseas residents in October reached 548,992. This is an 11.7 per cent increase from the 491,296 arrivals seen a year earlier.
Breaking down the overseas numbers reveals robust performance from key regions. Arrivals from Europe rose by 10.5 per cent compared to October 2024. Even more impressive was the growth from Asia, where arrivals gained 14.9 per cent year-over-year. This indicates a healthy and broadening interest in Canada as a destination for long-haul travellers.
Canadian Travel Patterns Shift
The data also sheds light on the travel habits of Canadians themselves. Mirroring the inbound trend from overseas, the number of Canadian residents returning from trips outside North America also rose. In October, 998,197 Canadians returned from overseas, up from 914,950 in October 2024. This suggests that while travel to the U.S. remains less appealing, Canadians are increasingly looking to destinations across the Atlantic and Pacific for their international trips.
The October figures, released in late December 2025, provide a timely snapshot of cross-border mobility as the year draws to a close. The simultaneous rise in U.S. and overseas arrivals, coupled with a shift in where Canadians choose to travel, points to an evolving post-pandemic travel landscape where traditional patterns are being rewritten.
