US Tourism Industry Fails to Win Back Canadian Visitors Amid Trade War

Canadian tourists have been dwindling in the US since President Donald Trump's inauguration, and a recent trade war has only exacerbated the situation. According to Statistics Canada, Canadian residents made 25% fewer return border crossings and spent around $2.4 billion (CA$3.3 billion) less on travel to the US in 2025 compared to the previous year.

The US tourism industry has been trying to woo Canadians back with promotions such as 'NY Loves Canada' in New York state, which offers discounts at hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Some Las Vegas hotels have even started treating the Canadian dollar as equivalent to the US dollar to give Canadian visitors more value for their money.

Despite these efforts, many Canadians are hesitant to travel to the US due to the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Deborah Friedland, a hospitality consultant at Eisner Advisory Group, said that 'You went from this really high, exciting moment for the U.S. in terms of international attention, to the next week, it's negative again.'

The US National Travel and Tourism Office estimates that during the first six months of 2026, Canadians made even fewer overnight visits than they did during the same period last year.