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Daily Mail
08-08-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Painful unintended consequence for Canadians boycotting US vacations because of Trump
Canadians boycotting the US over the Trump administration are spending more money on their vacations, as they head to more distant destinations, per a new report. According to Flight Centre Canada data provided to CBC News, Canadians are spending more money traveling to other countries when compared to last year. Canadian travel to Argentina jumped by 148 percent, 137 percent to Japan, 114 percent to Denmark and 101 percent to Curacao. Meanwhile travel to Aruba increased by 71 percent, to Portugal by 61 percent and Spain by 35. President Donald Trump 's attacks on Canada 's economy and threats to make it the 51st state have infuriated Canadians, who are canceling trips to the US in big numbers. Kelly Bergquist, a resident of Alberta, told CBC News the trade war between DC and Ottawa made her cancel her yearly trip to the US. She last went to the US last summer, when she attended a concert in Las Vegas, but next year she is heading for the Balkans - even if it means spending more money. 'I just don't really want to support them right now. If they're going to do that to us, I don't want to give any money to them,' Bergquist said of the US government. She added: 'I could have easily done a Mississippi River cruise or done any kind of cruise that basically goes out of the States or things like that. But as of right now, I'm just putting all that aside until we kind of see where things are going.' Canadians have long been the top international travelers to the US, driving $20.5 billion in spending last year. But Canadian air travel to the US dropped by 13.5 percent in March compared to a year earlier, and those crossing the border by car fell by more than 30 percent, data from Statistics Canada revealed. The US gets more visitors from Canada each year than from any other country, according to the US Travel Association, an industry trade group, which said the 20.4 million visits from Canada last year generated $20.5 billion in spending. In April, Trump brushed aside the decline in tourism from Canada to the United States, saying: 'There's a little nationalism there I guess, perhaps. It's not a big deal.' Since Trump started his second term, there have been well-publicized reports of tourists being stopped at US border crossings and held for weeks at immigration detention facilities before being allowed to fly home at their own expense. On March 3, Canadian Jasmine Mooney, an actor and entrepreneur on a US work visa, was detained by border agents in San Diego. She was released after 12 days detention. Before Mooney's release, British Columbia Premier David Eby expressed concern, saying: 'It certainly reinforces anxiety that... many Canadians have about our relationship with the US right now, and the unpredictability of this administration and its actions.' The shift has led vacation hotspots such as Palm Springs to run campaigns to try and lure back the Canadian visitors businesses depend on. Airlines have been forced to switch tack by cutting flights to US destinations and increasing frequency to Mexican alternatives. Air Canada reported on Friday that its Canada to US routes have seen a 7 percent drop in the first quarter of the year. Meanwhile the drop in Canadian tourism to the US led California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a frequent target of Trump, to announce an ad campaign this month meant to lure Canadians back to his state, citing a 12% year-on-year drop in February.
08-08-2025
- Business
Forget Vegas and Florida. Canadians are skipping the U.S. for other international spots
As an avid traveller, Kelly Bergquist used to visit the United States at least once a year. The Edmonton woman was last south of the border in August 2024 when she went to a concert in Las Vegas. She considered another U.S. trip this year, but the ongoing trade war made her think again. I just don't really want to support them right now. If they're going to do that to us, I don't want to give any money to them, Bergquist said. Bergquist said she may instead go to Mexico in the future, and she is already planning a big trip to the Balkan countries in southeastern Europe for next year. I could have easily done a Mississippi River cruise or done any kind of cruise that basically goes out of the States or things like that. But as of right now, I'm just putting all that aside until we kind of see where things are going, she said. Enlarge image (new window) Kelly Bergquist use to travel to the United States at least once a year. Now, with the ongoing trade war, she is reconsidering her travel plans and instead making plans to travel to other international destinations. Photo: CBC / Samuel Martin Since the start of the recent trade war, some Canadians have been shunning travel to the United States (new window) . Many are opting for trips within Canada instead, but there is new data showing Canadians are turning to international destinations other than the United States. Data provided by Flight Centre Canada to CBC News shows that travel spending for many countries booked between May 1 to July 30 is up compared to last year. Travel spending jumped 148 per cent in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 137 per cent in Osaka, Japan, 112 per cent in Copenhagen, Denmark and 101 per cent in Curaçao in the Caribbean, according to Flight Centre Canada data. Aruba, also in the Caribbean, also saw a 71 per cent jump in travel spending, along with Lisbon, Portugal at 61 per cent. Meanwhile, Prague, Czech Republic saw an increase of 38 per cent, Barcelona, Spain saw 35 per cent, Dublin, Ireland jumped 29 per cent and spending in Cape Town, South Africa went up 27 per cent. WATCH | Where will Canadians head instead of the U.S.? Tourism organizations from several countries are also showing similar trends. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, between January and June, Japan saw 335,400 Canadian visitors, compared to 272,264 during the same period in 2024 — an increase of 23 per cent. Turismo de Portugal told CBC News that, from January to May, the number of Canadian visitors grew 6.5 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. Data from Visit Brasil provided to CBC News reveals there were 57,065 Canadian tourists in Brazil between January and June, a 12.9 per cent jump from the same period last year when there were 50,556 Canadian tourists. Enlarge image (new window) Data provided by Flight Centre Canada to CBC News shows the countries that have seen increases in travel spending by Canadians between May and July compared to the same time last year. Photo: CBC / Adam Ciolfi Flight options, promotional materials and the exchange rate can all influence how a trip is planned. Andrew Stafford, a manager with Flight Centre in Vancouver, said tensions with the United States are top of mind for clients. In the scenario that people are choosing not to do those four or five-day trips south of the border, we're seeing them compile that time and put it into one longer trip to see further-flung destinations, he said. People are still travelling at the same rate they were. They're just choosing different destinations. Targeted campaigns Marival Group, a Canadian-owned hotel chain in Mexico, has also seen more Canadians at its three all-inclusive resorts since the start of the trade war, according to Salvador Ramos, vice president of sales and marketing. Ramos pegs the increase at between five and six per cent, which he said translates to about 15,000 more Canadians at Marival Group's hotels. Enlarge image (new window) In provided materials, a view is seen of Marival Armony resort in Mexico. Photo: Submitted by Marival Resorts [They] give us the opportunity to show our brand and let them know that we are super welcoming Canadians. It's a market that we love, that we care for, said Ramos when asked how coveted Canadian travelers are right now, adding Canadians make up a sizable chunk of the company's business year-round. Feeling safe and welcome Every year, Joan Allison of Windsor, Ont., would spend four months in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., and a couple other weeks in the U.S. campaign. After U.S. President Donald Trump took power in January, Allison said she lost her mojo to be in the United States. Allison cites a combination of Trump's pardons for Jan. 6 insurrectionists, border security concerns and the trade war for her changing travel attitudes. The threats to our economy are massive.… And so for that reason alone, I have no desire to spend any money in the United States, she said. An ardent traveller, she is now proactively choosing international travel that does not involve the United States. Allison said she has booked a trip to Portugal for next year and is mulling another sunny destination as well. Wayne Smith, the director of the Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Research at Toronto Metropolitan University, said Canadians want to go to places where they will feel safe. Canadians do like to travel in general. But we're also seeing that Canadians are changing their travel patterns to go to places where they feel comfortable and welcome, he said. Smith also said that Canadians like good value and with rates in cities such as Las Vegas and Los Angeles being seen as expensive and aggressive, he argues that there could be a long-term chill on travel to the U.S. You add in the social political stuff … and then you add in things like the immigration permits and the potential of dealing with border security and ICE, this is probably not going to be a short-term pattern for the U.S., he said.
CBC
08-08-2025
- Business
- CBC
Forget Vegas and Florida. Canadians are skipping the U.S. for other international spots
Social Sharing As an avid traveller, Kelly Bergquist used to visit the United States at least once a year. The Edmonton woman was last south of the border in August 2024 when she went to a concert in Las Vegas. She considered another U.S. trip this year, but the ongoing trade war made her think again. "I just don't really want to support them right now. If they're going to do that to us, I don't want to give any money to them," Bergquist said. Bergquist said she may instead go to Mexico in the future, and she is already planning a big trip to the Balkan countries in southeastern Europe for next year. "I could have easily done a Mississippi River cruise or done any kind of cruise that basically goes out of the States or things like that. But as of right now, I'm just putting all that aside until we kind of see where things are going," she said. Since the start of the recent trade war, some Canadians have been shunning travel to the United States. Many are opting for trips within Canada instead, but there is new data showing Canadians are turning to international destinations other than the United States. Data provided by Flight Centre Canada to CBC News shows that travel spending for many countries booked between May 1 to July 30 is up compared to last year. Travel spending jumped 148 per cent in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 137 per cent in Osaka, Japan, 112 per cent in Copenhagen, Denmark and 101 per cent in Curaçao in the Caribbean, according to Flight Centre Canada data. Aruba, also in the Caribbean, also saw a 71 per cent jump in travel spending, along with Lisbon, Portugal at 61 per cent. Meanwhile, Prague, Czech Republic saw an increase of 38 per cent, Barcelona, Spain saw 35 per cent, Dublin, Ireland jumped 29 per cent and spending in Cape Town, South Africa went up 27 per cent. WATCH | Where will Canadians head instead of the U.S.? Where Canadians are travelling instead of the U.S. 1 day ago Tourism organizations from several countries are also showing similar trends. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, between January and June, Japan saw 335,400 Canadian visitors, compared to 272,264 during the same period in 2024 — an increase of 23 per cent. Turismo de Portugal told CBC News that, from January to May, the number of Canadian visitors grew 6.5 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. Data from Visit Brasil provided to CBC News reveals there were 57,065 Canadian tourists in Brazil between January and June, a 12.9 per cent jump from the same period last year when there were 50,556 Canadian tourists. Flight options, promotional materials and the exchange rate can all influence how a trip is planned. Andrew Stafford, a manager with Flight Centre in Vancouver, said tensions with the United States are top of mind for clients. "In the scenario that people are choosing not to do those four or five-day trips south of the border, we're seeing them compile that time and put it into one longer trip to see further-flung destinations," he said. "People are still travelling at the same rate they were. They're just choosing different destinations." Targeted campaigns Marival Group, a Canadian-owned hotel chain in Mexico, has also seen more Canadians at its three all-inclusive resorts since the start of the trade war, according to Salvador Ramos, vice president of sales and marketing. Ramos pegs the increase at between five and six per cent, which he said translates to about 15,000 more Canadians at Marival Group's hotels. He expects those numbers will grow closer to the high season, which starts in November, and he said the company is doubling down on attracting even more Canadian travellers. Ramos said the company has digital campaigns, in both French and English, in 20 different cities across Canada, including Calgary, Ottawa and Winnipeg, as well as Google ads, magazine collaborations and participation in sporting events. "[They] give us the opportunity to show our brand and let them know that we are super welcoming Canadians." "It's a market that we love, that we care for," said Ramos when asked how coveted Canadian travelers are right now, adding Canadians make up a sizable chunk of the company's business year-round. Feeling safe and welcome Every year, Joan Allison of Windsor, Ont., would spend four months in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., and a couple other weeks in the U.S. campaign. After U.S. President Donald Trump took power in January, Allison said she lost her "mojo" to be in the United States. Allison cites a combination of Trump's pardons for Jan. 6 insurrectionists, border security concerns and the trade war for her changing travel attitudes. "The threats to our economy are massive.… And so for that reason alone, I have no desire to spend any money in the United States," she said. An ardent traveller, she is now proactively choosing international travel that does not involve the United States. Allison said she has booked a trip to Portugal for next year and is mulling another sunny destination as well. Wayne Smith, the director of the Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Research at Toronto Metropolitan University, said Canadians want to go to places where they will feel safe. "Canadians do like to travel in general. But we're also seeing that Canadians are changing their travel patterns to go to places where they feel comfortable and welcome," he said. Smith also said that Canadians like good value and with rates in cities such as Las Vegas and Los Angeles being seen as expensive and aggressive, he argues that there could be a long-term chill on travel to the U.S. "You add in the social political stuff … and then you add in things like the immigration permits and the potential of dealing with border security and ICE, this is probably not going to be a short-term pattern for the U.S.," he said.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Canadian travel to the U.S. declined even further last month, report says. Here's why — and where Canadians should travel to instead
Canadians aren't changing their mind about boycotting travel to the United States. In a new report by Statistics Canada, Canadians returning from international travel by air or by vehicle in April 2025 was down 15.2 per cent compared to April 2024. It's the steepest decline in travel year to date, and marks three consecutive months of year over year declines. According to StatsCan, 4.5 million Canadian residents who returned from international travel by air or vehicle last month. Although April showed a decline in travel overall, there was a 35.2 per cent decline in Canadians who returned from the U.S. via automobile compared to April 2024. Faced with tariff and annexation threats from the U.S. President Donald Trump, and increased anxiety over treatment at the border, many Canadians are choosing to boycott travel to the States altogether. A recent Abacus survey found that 56 per cent of Canadians who initially planned to travel to the U.S. this year had since scaled back or cancelled those plans, the primary reason being political tensions. We recently asked readers to weigh in on travel plans to the U.S., and if they had changed. Of those polled, 77 per cent of readers said they do not plan on travelling to the U.S. within the next year, while 58 per cent of readers said they have already cancelled a trip to the U.S. they had planned for this year. One reader, Allen C. said he has many friends in the U.S. and typically travels there to visit them during the winter months — usually spending between $8,000 to $12,000 CAD while he's there. However, this year is different. 'I have cancelled trips to the [U.S.], rerouted to Vancouver Island, Vancouver, Shuswap and Penticton,' he said. Marie B. said she's travelled to the U.S. at least once a year for the past 20 years — except during COVID-19 restrictions. Typically, she joins a busload of Canadians for a holiday shopping trip to the States. 'Not this year, we all will shop at home,' she said. 'No more USA shopping or support for our neighbours to the south. Too bad, really. What a sad turn of events for our two countries.' 'My husband and I are finally out of debt,' said Ann P. 'Our dream for years was to … spend three months in the sunny south over the winter. It is absolutely no longer an option.' New February data from Flight Centre Canada found a 40 per cent decrease in leisure bookings to the U.S. compared to February of last year. 'That trend continued into March, with U.S. bookings once again down 40 per cent year-over-year,' said Amra Durakovic, head of communications at Flight Centre Travel Group Canada. And between November 2024 and January, Flight Centre Canada saw a 20 per cent cancellation rate on pre-existing U.S. trips. Many were rebooked to countries like Mexico and the Caribbean. Another recent Flight Centre survey conducted by YouGov, found that 86 per cent of Canadian travellers are taking a more intentional approach to travel this year, adjusting their vacation in 2025 to prioritize affordability, especially when it comes to considering the exchange rate. We continue to see softened demand to traditional U.S. destinations like California, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada and New York. There's also growing interest in domestic travel to places like Alberta, Newfoundland and Nova Durakovic, Flight Centre Travel Group Canada 'Year-to-date, we continue to see softened demand to traditional U.S. destinations like California, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada and New York,' Durakovic said. 'There's also growing interest in domestic travel to places like Alberta, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.' 'Internationally, Europe is trending for summer, with destinations like Amsterdam, Portugal, and the U.K. leading the way thanks to more flight options and competitive pricing,' Durakovic said. 'Canadians are also turning their 'someday' trips into reality, booking long-hauls to destinations like Japan, Thailand and Australia, supported by favourable exchange rates.' If you're a Canadian avoiding U.S. travel — whether you're a snowbird who spends winters in Arizona or Florida or just looking to take the cheapest, most fun weekend trip you can find — there are plenty of places that you can swap in. We turned to experts at Flight Centre Canada to ask what trending travel destinations, both in Canada and abroad, are worth checking out. Costa Rica for zip-lining, wildlife spotting and beach adventures. Mexico, including Riviera Maya, for going beyond the resorts and exploring cenotes, Mayan ruins and interactive eco-parks. Thailand, including Chiang Mai and Phuket, to visit elephant sanctuaries and kid-friendly resorts. Ecuador, including Quito and the Amazon, for family-friendly wildlife adventures without breaking the bank. Nova Scotia, including the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island and Peggy's Cove, for scenic drives and whale watching. Northwest Territories and the Yukon to spot the Aurora Borealis and do Arctic wilderness adventures. Haida Gwaii, B.C. to check out high-end eco-lodges and Indigenous cultural immersion. Torngat Mountains in Labrador for helicopter tours or Arctic expeditions. Portugal, including Lisbon and Algarve, for beaches, castles and great food at family-friendly prices. Vietnam, including Ha Giang Loop and Sapa Trekking for motorbike routes and rice terraces. Torres del Paine, Patagonia for multi-day trekking in mountain scenery. Ecuador, including Galápagos and the Andean Highlands, for snorkelling with marine life and mountain trekking.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Yahoo
Canadian travel to Cuba on a double-digit downturn in early 2025
Cuba saw a double-digit drop in the number of Canadians visiting the island nation this past winter, raising questions about what's behind the slide. Data from Cuba's national statistical agency reveals that the number of Canadians travelling there was at least 30 per cent below last year's numbers in January, February and March. Yet the downward shift goes beyond visitors from Canada, with Cuba also reporting a decreasing number of tourist visits from Russia, Spain and Italy, among other countries. The director of the Cuban Tourism Board in Toronto was out of the country this week and not available for comment. But the country's national tourism minister has recently hinted at the "complex" challenges Cuba is facing. Several domestic airlines and travel operators confirm they are seeing less travel to the Caribbean country that drew more than one million Canadian visitors annually in the years before the pandemic. "The reported decline in Canadian travel to Cuba aligns with feedback we're hearing from both customers and our travel experts," Amra Durakovic, head of communications for Flight Centre Canada, told CBC News via email. Cuba watchers say the country's accumulating economic and social challenges — on full display for tourists who venture away from resorts, and also in media reports — may be contributing to the decline in tourism. "The reality is that the country has changed significantly for the worse since the early 1990s, when Canadians began visiting the island in large numbers," said Ricardo Torres Pérez, a Cuban economist who pays close attention to the tourism statistics published by the state. Problems on display A prominent and recurring problem for Cuba has been its unreliable power grid and the effect that's having on the country and the lives of its people. For months, Cuba has seen repeated widespread power failures, including on back-to-back occasions last fall when the island was hit by successive hurricanes. There was also a major outage in December, and yet another in March. Andrés Pertierra, a Cuba analyst who previously lived and studied in Havana, was in Cuba for two of those major outages last year. He recalls the pictures shown on the news of darkened streets, juxtaposed against images of the lights working at hotels. "How do you provide an image of a carefree lifestyle, a quick, fun trip, when you have that?" Pertierra asked. Flight Centre's Durakovic says travellers are paying attention to the very public problems Cuba's been having, including the periodic power outages and limited availability of some essential goods and services, which he says "can understandably play a role in travel decisions." Since July 2023, Ottawa has warned Canadians to "exercise a high degree of caution" if travelling to Cuba. The full travel advisory points to shortages of food, medicine and fuel, as well as ongoing challenges with the power grid. LISTEN | Cuba, power outages and challenges for Havana: Torres Pérez said these problems are tied to Cuba's ongoing economic crisis. "The crisis has affected the quality of services, the state of infrastructure and has led to frequent blackouts," he said, noting there are also issues around keeping cities clean with "solid waste accumulating in the streets." Both Torres Pérez and Pertierra also say that amid these struggles, Cuba is seeing more problems with crime than it used to. "While one could argue that the island remains relatively safe compared to other Latin American countries, crime is on the rise — including incidents of pickpocketing," said Torres Pérez. 'I love the place' But the lure of Cuba's sunny weather and sandy beaches is strong, and for some Canadians, it's a place they'll continue to visit. Quebec resident Michel Dubois last visited Cuba in December and says he'll be returning there twice this year. "I love the place, that's it," said Dubois, a retired TV cameraman and editor, who worked for both CBC and Radio-Canada during his career. "I love the people." Dubois says he's made friends after making repeat trips to Cuba, and helps supply them with hard-to-come by necessities, like flashlights, when he visits. Sharon Pedley, of Brampton, Ont., intends to do the same, when she returns to Cuba later this year. She and her husband will pack an extra suitcase full of necessities — like over-the-counter medication — to bring for Cuban friends they've met through their prior visits. "You'll find a lot of the tourists that I know of, they'll do the same," said Pedley. The support that Pedley, Dubois and other like-minded tourists provide in this manner may benefit individual Cubans, but these visitors also provide the country with a critical source of foreign currency. Pertierra, the Cuba analyst, notes that as tourism wanes, "that will mean less foreign currency," which is critical for the country to have in order to import needed goods and supplies. A turn to China? This past week, Reuters reported that Cuba is looking to China as a possible source of new tourists. In March, the official Cuban Granma newspaper lauded the growing number of Chinese tourists heading to Cuba in recent years — from more than 8,000 visitors in 2022, to a reported 26,760 in 2024. But those numbers are far lower than the more than 500,000 Canadians who travelled to Cuba in the first three months of 2025 — and that's at a level 30 per cent below last year. Canadian travel providers point to continued interest from consumers, despite what the Cuban statistics suggest. "Although there has been a slight softening in bookings for the early part of 2025 compared to the previous year, we are also seeing signs of stabilization in the last month," Marie-Christine Pouliot, manager of public relations for Air Transat, said via email. Air Canada, meanwhile, told CBC News that "Cuba has been performing very steadily for us." Torres Pérez says Canada has long been Cuba's single-largest tourism market. Asked how it could potentially act to drive up those numbers, he suggested efforts could be made to improve the quality of service and ensure the hospitality sector has the supplies it needs to serve visitors.
