As Canadians pull back from U.S., int’l trips surge: StatCan

Canadians continued to rethink where they travel in early 2026, with trips to the United States falling sharply while overseas destinations attracted more visitors – and considerably more spending.

New data from Statistics Canada’s National Travel Survey and Visitor Travel Survey show Canadian residents took 78.7 million trips within Canada and abroad during the first quarter of 2026, up 1.5 per cent from the same period last year.

But beneath that overall increase, travel patterns shifted notably.

Between January and March, Canadians took 5.5 million trips that included a visit to the United States, representing a 10.6 per cent year-over-year decline.

Spending south of the border fell even faster, dropping 13.6 per cent to $5.0 billion.

At the same time, Canadians increasingly looked farther afield.

International travel climbs 6.2%

Canadian residents took 4.6 million trips that included a visit to a country abroad during the first quarter, up 6.2 per cent year over year.

Spending on those trips jumped 16.7 per cent to $10.1 billion – more than double the amount Canadians spent during visits to the United States.

On average, Canadians spent $2,210 per visit and stayed 13.3 nights.

Mexico remained the most-visited country, welcoming 1.3 million Canadian visits during the quarter.

The Dominican Republic ranked second with 441,000 visits, followed by Costa Rica at 193,000.

Costa Rica's result was particularly noteworthy: it was the highest number of Canadian visitors recorded since at least 2018, when data collection for the National Travel Survey began.

Statistics Canada attributed the growth, in part, to more direct flights being offered by several Canadian airlines.

Some of the biggest year-over-year gains were seen farther afield.

Compared with the first quarter of 2025, Japan welcomed 79,000 more Canadian visitors, while France recorded an increase of 57,000. Mexico added another 51,000 Canadian visits.

Canadians spend more at home

Domestic tourism also gained ground during the first three months of the year.

Canadian residents took 69.1 million trips that included a domestic visit, an increase of 2.3 per cent compared with the first quarter of 2025.

Same-day visits rose 3.8 per cent to 48.8 million, while overnight visits slipped 1.2 per cent to 20.4 million.

Those who did stay overnight, however, stayed longer. The average number of nights increased 3.7 per cent year over year.

Domestic tourism spending reached $14.5 billion between January and March, up 5.1 per cent.

Canadians spent an average of $101 on a same-day visit and $471 on an overnight visit, with overnight stays averaging 2.8 nights.

Overall, Canadians took 10.0 million trips that included a visit abroad during the quarter, down 3.3 per cent year over year – a decline driven by the drop in U.S. travel.

For trips to the United States, 37.5 per cent were same-day visits. Canadians spent an average of $206 on those trips.

Overnight U.S. visitors spent an average of $1,344 per visit and stayed an average of 7.9 nights.

More Americans come to Canada

While Canadians made fewer trips south, travel in the opposite direction increased.

International visitors took 4.5 million trips to Canada during the first quarter, up 3.5 per cent year over year.

U.S. residents accounted for 3.6 million of those trips, a 3.4 per cent increase from the first quarter of 2025.

And American visitors were spending significantly more.

U.S. visitor expenditures climbed 16.5 per cent to $3.0 billion during the quarter. Some 42.8 per cent of U.S. trips were same-day visits, with average spending of $170.

For overnight trips, Americans spent an average of $1,323 and stayed 5.4 nights.

Canada also welcomed 990,000 trips by overseas residents, up 3.7 per cent.

Spending by those visitors rose 10.2 per cent to $2.1 billion, averaging $2,085 per trip. Their stays averaged 16.6 nights.

The United Kingdom was Canada's largest overseas source market during the quarter, accounting for 108,000 trips, followed by Mexico with 99,000 and France with 94,000.

Mexico posted the largest year-over-year increase, sending 14,000 more visitors to Canada, while arrivals from the U.K. increased by 10,000.

International visitors spent $32B in Canada in 2025

Statistics Canada also provided a fuller picture of inbound tourism last year.

U.S. and overseas residents made 29.6 million trips to Canada in 2025, down a modest 0.7 per cent from 2024.

The two markets moved in opposite directions.

Trips by U.S. residents declined 3.0 per cent to 22.8 million, while overseas visits climbed 7.5 per cent to 6.8 million.

Both remained below pre-pandemic volumes. Compared with 2019, U.S. trips to Canada were down 8.8 per cent, while overseas trips were 8.5 per cent lower.

Visitor spending, however, has moved well beyond its pre-pandemic level.

Non-resident visitors spent $32.0 billion in Canada in 2025, up 12.4 per cent from 2024 and 36.7 per cent compared with 2019.

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