Canadians expected to keep steering clear of U.S. in 2026: Flight Centre

Statistics Canada’s latest report showing a continued decline in Canadian travel to the U.S. in January echoes a new Flight Centre Canada consumer report, which suggests the trend may persist.

According to a national YouGov survey of more than 1,000 Canadians, 62 per cent of respondents say they are less likely to visit the U.S. in 2026 compared to last year — signalling a pullback that appears increasingly structural rather than seasonal.

What hasn’t changed is Canadians’ desire to travel, only how they are deciding where to go. In contrast, travel to overseas countries by air increased 11.1 per cent in January, totalling 1.4 million trips in January 2026, StatCan says. 

“Over the past year, we’ve seen a redistribution of Canadian travel spending,” said Chris Lynes, managing director of Flight Centre Travel Group Canada, in a press release. “While U.S. travel has softened, outbound travel to other international destinations and interest in domestic trips has strengthened. If sustained, this could permanently reshape where Canadian travel dollars flow.”

U.S travel comfort has eroded

The U.S. is no longer the default destination as six in 10 Canadians (62 per cent) say they are less likely to visit in 2026 compared to last year.

Only eight percent are more likely to visit, the report says.

READ MORE: Travel from Canada to U.S.: car trips fall 27%, air travel declines 18%

The top factors affecting the decision are political/cultural climate (57 per cent), border hassles/travel restrictions (53 per cent), safety/security concerns (46 per cent) and cost/exchange rate (44 per cent).

Canada & Europe come out on top

Canada ranks as the top destination of the year with 37 per cent of Canadians placing it in the number one spot on their travel wishlists.

Confidence in Europe also surges with one in four Canadians (25 per cent) slotting it into their top travel spot, making it the second most desirable location for 2026. Mexico and Asia each garner nine per cent of the vote.

Values & value

For 86 per cent of Canadians, travel feels different this year with nearly six in 10 Canadians (58 per cent) saying cost will ultimately determine where they travel.

Still, 20 per cent say they are willing to pay more to travel within Canada to support local jobs.

These mindset changes signal “a new era of Canadian travel — one driven by purpose, ease and value,” says Flight Centre.

This year, that means staying close to home with adventures in Banff and Lake Louise, flying to Europe to explore destinations like Croatia, the Azores and Italy’s Sardegna and Umbria regions, or stretching the Canadian dollar further in Asia, Flight Centre’s top destination of the year for 15 per cent of Gen Z.

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