Canadian Travelers Hesitant About U.S. Visits

By Travel Press Staff

February 18, 2026

A recent study from Longwoods International on Canadian travelers reveals that 59% of them feel that U. S. government policies, trade actions, and political remarks make them less inclined to visit the U. S. in the next year. This is an increase from 53% last October but a decrease from a high of 63% in July 2025.

Among those Canadians affected by U. S. policies, 73% said tariffs and comments from U. S. leaders are the main reasons impacting their travel decisions.

Key insights from Longwoods International’s latest tracking study include:

Lack of Significant Improvement in Intent to Travel to the U. S.:  45% of surveyed Canadian travelers say they plan to travel to the U. S. within the next twelve months, which is almost the same as October 2025 (44%). Among them, only 9 % report having booked a trip already (down 4 points since October), indicating ongoing uncertainty in this market. Cancellation of Travel Plans Persists:  In the past six months, 23% of Canadians surveyed stated they have canceled a planned trip to the U. S. Looking ahead, there’s some positive news as only 9% mentioned canceling plans for trips they had already arranged for the upcoming year, a significant drop from 36% in April of last year. Less Feeling Safe, and Only Marginally More Welcome:  Perhaps one of the most troubling findings is that just 35% of those surveyed believe that the U. S. is a “safe place to visit.” This marks an eight-point decline from April when it was at 43%! As for feeling “welcome,” there’s slight improvement with 46% agreeing (up four points since April), but it’s still not enough for a majority. The good news is that an impressive 88% see the U. S. as offering “lots of things to see and do,” showing its attractions remain very appealing. Policy and Politics Continue to Deter Visits to the U. S.: 59% of Canadian travelers indicate that political issues or trade practices from the U. S. make them less likely to visit – this has risen from 53% in October but has decreased slightly since hitting a peak of 63% last July. The percentage who say these policies don’t affect their travel intentions remains steady at about 23%. Domestic Travel Remains Top Alternative to Visiting the U. S.:  45% now say they would opt for domestic travel instead of heading south – an increase from just 37% last October. Additionally, around 24% are looking towards international destinations like Europe, Mexico, and Caribbean spots as alternatives. It’s the Economy Too: 45% indicate that fluctuations in currency exchange rates between Canada and the United States are also influencing their travel choices! This figure has remained consistent over previous survey iterations suggesting that many Canadians were already hesitant about traveling due to economic factors exacerbated by political issues.

Amir Eylon, President and CEO of Longwoods International noted: “Political disputes between the U. S. and Canada continue to be a headwind for Canadian visitation to the U. S. And the Canadian perception of safety while traveling in America has steadily declined during these past ten months.”

Of those Canadians affected by American politics and policy changes, about 45% say they will replace their planned trips with domestic travels within Canada (up from October’s figure), while another 24% will seek other international locations like Europe or Mexico instead.

For more on this study, CLICK HERE.

 

Tags: Amir Eylon, Longwood International

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