Toronto — Canadian visits to the United States have seen a significant decline, with fewer neighbors crossing the border than in previous years.
Research conducted by the University of Toronto indicates a substantial 42% decrease in Canadian visits to U.S. cities last year. This decline is notably more severe than what official border statistics reflect, with political and trade tensions between the two nations cited as primary factors.
By analyzing cellphone data, researchers at the University of Toronto observed “a year-over-year median decline of approximately 42%” in Canadian trips to metropolitan areas across the United States.
Official figures reveal that the number of Canadians returning from the U.S. in 2025 decreased by 25%, while the number of Americans visiting Canada plummeted by 75%.
The study highlights Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as experiencing the most significant drop, with a 65% reduction in Canadian visitors. Yuma, Arizona, followed closely with a 62% decrease. Other cities such as San Francisco and Florida’s Miami, Palm Bay, and Panama City also reported over a 50% decline in Canadian tourists last year.
Beyond the evident decline in leisure travel, the study’s authors point out that visits to major economic centers have also sharply decreased.
“High-tech and financial centers like San Francisco and Houston appear to be experiencing reductions not only in tourists but also in business-related travel, reflecting changing travel preferences due to broader economic uncertainties on both sides of the border,” the study says.
Since the start of President Trump’s second term in office, some Canadians have boycotted U.S. goods and travel in response to sweeping tariffs, stricter immigration policies, and controversial remarks by the American leader about making Canada the 51st U.S. state.
Early this year, tourism leaders in Florida were reaching out to their Canadian counterparts to try and boost travel amid the backlash to Mr. Trump’s policies and remarks.
“We’re doing what we can, just as we are with any country outside the United States, to make sure that visitation remains strong,” Visit Florida President and CEO Bryan Griffin said in February, ahead of meetings with Canadian officials.
In a deliberate bid to lure back Canadian visitors, some casinos and hotels in Las Vegas announced promotions earlier this year offering a currency exchange rate of “At Par” between U.S. and Canadian dollars through the end of August. Under the offer, $1 Canadian is equal to $1 U.S., despite the lower value of the Canadian currency.
