After a year and a half of avoiding trips to the U.S., some Canadians are starting to travel south again. Recent data from Statistics Canada shows that in June, Canadian return trips from the U.S. increased by 3.2% compared to the same month last year. This marks the third consecutive month of growth in inbound travel from the U.S. by Canadians, following increases of 9.5% in May and 1.4% in April.
The rise in travel was primarily driven by an uptick in car travel, with 5.2% more Canadians returning from the U.S. by car compared to the previous June. However, air travel from the States to Canada saw a 3.8% decrease year-over-year in June.
Despite the slight increase in car travel, Canadian travel to the U.S. is still far below pre-pandemic levels. This slow return to travel may offer some hope to the U.S. tourism industry, but a significant boost in business is not expected in the near future.
Compared to June 2024, Canadian return travel from the U.S. last month was down by a substantial 28.7%. Wayne Smith, director of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Research, views the recent uptick as a gradual “normalization” of travel patterns rather than a complete return to pre-pandemic levels.
Kristy Kennedy, VP of marketing and operations at the North Country Chamber of Commerce, noted a slight increase in Canadian travel near the Quebec border in New York State. Local businesses have observed more Canadian visitors, indicating a positive trend in cross-border travel.
Amir Eylon, president of travel consultancy Longwoods International, believes that recent promotional campaigns and incentives, such as discounts and favorable exchange rates, have contributed to the rise in travel. The higher cost of air travel may have also pushed some travelers towards driving to U.S. destinations.
The recent boost in travel could also be linked to the World Cup hosted by Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, drawing Canadian soccer fans across the border. Eylon remains cautiously optimistic about the future of cross-border travel, noting that the industry has shown incremental growth over the past three months.
However, Smith points out that the shift towards car travel and the weak Canadian dollar pose challenges for the U.S. in attracting Canadian tourists. He suggests that these factors, along with changing travel habits, may hinder the U.S. from fully regaining its appeal to Canadian travelers.
