Canada Travel to US Snub Continues in May as Over Fifty Percent of Travelers Decided to Go to Mexico, France, Portugal, Spain, Japan, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cuba: New Report

The travel snub from Canada to the United States shows no signs of slowing down. In May 2025, more than half of Canadians who had originally planned U.S. vacations took their plans elsewhere. According to a national survey by Leger Marketing, 56% of those travelers decided to go to destinations like Mexico, France, Portugal, Spain, Japan, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Cuba instead.

If Canadians aren't heading south to the U.S., where are they going? The data points clearly toward a major shift in both domestic and international travel choices.

Internationally, the top alternative destinations include Mexico, France, Portugal, Spain, Japan, and Caribbean hotspots like the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Cuba. Airlines and travel platforms have reported increased demand for these locations, with some tour companies even redirecting their marketing away from U.S. itineraries.

The consequences for the U.S. tourism industry are mounting quickly. Canadians typically make up about 25% of all international visitors to the U.S., and in 2024, they spent $20.5 billion while vacationing south of the border. But those numbers are now at serious risk.

The U.S. Travel Association (USTA) warned earlier this year that even a 10% drop in Canadian inbound tourism could result in $2.1 billion in lost spending and jeopardize over 140,000 jobs in hospitality and related industries. With current travel numbers suggesting losses that are three to four times that forecast, the real economic impact could soar past $8 billion.

The World Travel & Tourism Council has sounded the alarm louder, forecasting a $12.5 billion loss in tourism revenue for the U.S. this year. With every 1% drop in international visitor spending equating to $1.8 billion in lost export revenue, the travel freeze could cost the country at least $21 billion in total if current trends continue through December.