British Columbia Joins Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and More US-Canada Border States and Provinces Punishing Hard American Tourism Sector, New Study on Canadians Ditch This Federal Country Leaving Economy in Dust

In 2025, British Columbia joins Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and other U.S.-Canada border states and provinces, has delivered a crushing blow to the American tourism sector, leaving the US economy in turmoil. A new study reveals how Canadians from these regions are ditching their trips to the United States, opting instead for domestic destinations or international travel.

This sharp decline in Canadian tourism to the US has left the American economy floundering, especially in areas that once thrived on cross-border visits. As more Canadians turn their backs on American cities, the American tourism sector is feeling the sting of this dramatic shift. British Columbia, Ontario, and the other border provinces are now leading the charge, as Canadians reject the U.S. tourism market and keep their wallets closer to home.

In 2025, British Columbia (B.C.) residents have made a dramatic shift away from U.S. travel, with vehicle crossings plunging by 36%, and flights from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) seeing a steady decline. With tensions high due to US President Trump’s tariffs and controversial comments, Canadians are making a statement: they prefer to spend their hard-earned dollars closer to home. This drastic fall in U.S. travel signals a shift in not just consumer behavior, but also the broader tourism industry’s future.

The numbers speak for themselves: B.C.-plated vehicles heading south across the Peace Arch, Pacific Highway, Lynden, and Sumas border crossings saw a steep 36% drop in 2025. From 2,359,215 crossings in 2024 to just 1,498,590 in 2025, this decline has been significant, with a staggering 51% drop in April alone. As Canadians continue to choose not to cross the border, the economic implications for U.S. tourism are starting to show. Not only does this reveal shifting preferences but also the power of Canadian sentiment, which is having a significant impact on the tourism industry. With months of decline, this trend shows no signs of stopping.

At Vancouver International Airport (YVR), the story is the same. The latest data shows a sharp 6.5% drop in air travel between Vancouver and U.S. destinations. But here’s the catch: the decline isn’t coming from U.S.-based passengers starting their trips in the U.S. Instead, the sharp dip is mostly driven by Canadians opting out of the usual cross-border flights. YVR has seen its share of struggles, with a 13.3% drop in November alone, continuing a grim 11-month streak of decline in U.S.-Canada flights. If this trend continues, the future of U.S.-Canada tourism could be in jeopardy.

This changing trend has much broader consequences. It’s not just about avoiding tariffs; it’s a shift in cultural sentiment. As cross-border trips to the U.S. fall dramatically, many are opting for local travel or international destinations closer to home. For B.C.’s tourism sector, this could spell big opportunities for growth. With millions of dollars previously spent on U.S. holidays, local Canadian businesses have seen a rise in spending. Notably, destinations like Whistler and Vancouver have benefited from this increased national tourism. But for the U.S., the outlook is much more dire as it continues to lose the Canadian market.

The effects on the U.S. economy are becoming increasingly evident. Border communities, which have long relied on the flow of Canadian tourists, are facing a crisis. Reduced vehicle traffic means fewer customers for gas stations, restaurants, and hotels that cater specifically to Canadians crossing into the U.S. At the same time, U.S. businesses that once benefited from the daily influx of B.C. shoppers are starting to feel the pinch. If this trend continues, the U.S. may find itself losing not just Canadian visitors, but vital revenue streams that support entire local economies.

What this massive shift means for the future of tourism between Canada and the U.S. remains uncertain. Will the Canadian people’s growing dissatisfaction with U.S. policies remain a driving factor in declining travel numbers? Or will the pressures of global travel trends and economic factors bring Canadians back to the U.S.? The future of cross-border tourism could look very different in the coming years as Canadians search for more affordable, politically neutral destinations closer to home. One thing is clear: the U.S. needs to rethink its approach to international relations if it hopes to reverse this dramatic decline in Canadian visitors.

British Columbia, a province historically linked to the U.S. through major border crossings like Peace Arch and Pacific Highway, has witnessed a massive 35% decline in cross-border travel in 2025. This staggering drop in travel is not just limited to personal vehicles; air travel from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to U.S. destinations has seen a decline of 6.5% as well.

Why has B.C. taken such a sharp turn away from the U.S.? Political tension between Canada and the U.S., coupled with rising travel costs and the impact of tariffs on Canadian goods, has left many Canadians rethinking their travel options. Instead of heading south, more B.C. residents are exploring local Canadian destinations like Whistler, Vancouver, and the Okanagan Valley.

The effect on U.S. businesses is evident. Border towns like Blaine, Washington, are struggling without the influx of Canadian shoppers and tourists. This economic loss for the U.S. is just the tip of the iceberg.

Ontario has long been a major source of Canadian tourism to the U.S., with significant numbers of Ontarians crossing the border for shopping, vacations, and family visits. However, 2025 marks a sharp 30% drop in these trips. Toronto Pearson International Airport has also seen a 15% dip in flights to U.S. destinations, a clear sign that Canadians from Ontario are opting to stay home or seek international destinations.

The decline is partly driven by discontent with U.S. political policies, which has led to a rise in economic nationalism. Ontarians are increasingly choosing to buy local, opting for vacation destinations within Canada instead of traveling to U.S. cities like New York, Detroit, and Buffalo.

For the U.S. economy, this drop in tourism is having a ripple effect, particularly in border cities like Niagara Falls, where businesses that cater to Canadian visitors are seeing empty stores and restaurants. Local economies reliant on cross-border tourism are bracing for long-term impacts.

Quebec’s historic ties with the U.S., particularly in cities like Montreal, have always made it a key player in cross-border tourism. Yet in 2025, Quebec’s residents have drastically cut their trips to the U.S. by a staggering 25%. Air travel from Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to the U.S. has also fallen by 20%, indicating that Quebec residents are choosing to travel less frequently to the U.S.

The reasons are varied. Economic uncertainty, coupled with rising travel costs, has encouraged more Quebecois to look inward for vacation options. The political climate between the U.S. and Canada has only intensified this trend, with Quebecers choosing to support Canadian businesses rather than spend their money across the border.

In Alberta, the drop in U.S. tourism has mirrored national trends, with 30% fewer Albertans visiting the U.S. in 2025. This decline is most evident in air travel, where Calgary International Airport (YYC) has seen a 20% drop in U.S.-bound flights. The increased cost of flights combined with political dissatisfaction with the U.S. has left many Albertans opting for domestic vacations or international travel elsewhere.

For Alberta, the effects are twofold: fewer Canadians are crossing into the U.S. by car, and those who do choose to fly are turning their attention to places like Europe or Mexico instead of U.S. cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas. U.S. businesses in Alberta’s border cities are feeling the pressure as their Canadian customers are nowhere to be found.

Nova Scotia, while less heavily impacted than provinces like Ontario and British Columbia, has still experienced a 20% decline in outbound travel to the U.S. in 2025. Air travel from Halifax Stanfield International Airport has seen a moderate decline, as Canadians from Nova Scotia look toward destinations like Europe and the Caribbean instead of crossing the border.

The reasons for this shift can largely be attributed to U.S. travel becoming less attractive for Nova Scotians, who have increasingly opted to visit closer, more affordable destinations within Canada. This trend is particularly noticeable in local tourism in Nova Scotia, where more Canadians are choosing to explore their own country rather than venture into the U.S.

In New Brunswick, the tourism drop-off is similarly stark, with a 22% decrease in cross-border travel to the U.S. By car, New Brunswick residents are visiting the U.S. less than ever before. As with many other provinces, air travel has also dipped significantly, as high U.S. travel costs and rising political tensions have discouraged travel.

While New Brunswick typically sees fewer Canadian visitors crossing into the U.S., the decline is still significant enough to be felt by businesses that rely on Canadian tourism. In particular, U.S. retailers and restaurants that cater to Canadian tourists have seen lower foot traffic, particularly in Maine and New Hampshire.

Though Prince Edward Island (PEI) has a relatively smaller population, its tourism patterns still reflect the broader national trend. 15% fewer Prince Edward Islanders traveled to the U.S. in 2025, a modest decline compared to other provinces. Air traffic has also decreased, with fewer flights to U.S. cities like Boston and New York. However, this province has seen a spike in local tourism, with Canadians choosing PEI for domestic vacations instead.

While the decline in U.S. travel isn’t as drastic in PEI, it still speaks to the shift in priorities for Canadian travelers. More are opting for local or international destinations over U.S. travel, and the ripple effects are already visible in the tourism and retail sectors in border states like Maine.

Newfoundland and Labrador, much like Prince Edward Island, has experienced a 15-20% drop in cross-border tourism in 2025. The province’s smaller volume of U.S.-bound travelers means the decline is less severe than in other regions. However, Newfoundland’s residents are still less inclined to visit the U.S. in light of rising costs and political tension.

Canada’s 2025 tourism shift marks a major disruption in U.S.-Canada cross-border travel. From B.C. to Newfoundland, Canadian tourists are staying home, opting for local vacation spots or exploring international destinations beyond the U.S. With Canada’s political climate and rising costs pushing travelers away, the U.S. economy is taking a substantial hit. U.S. tourism is losing billions as Canadians abandon their usual trips south. This economic loss is felt not only in border communities but throughout the U.S. tourism industry. Will the U.S. be able to recover from this major shift, or has the post-2025 border tourism landscape been forever altered?