Canadians' winter travel intent surges as confidence rebounds: Allianz study

After a year of economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, Canadians are ready to travel again, according to Allianz Global Assistance Canada's ninth annual Winter Vacation Confidence Study.

Nearly half of Canadians (46%) are confident they will take a winter vacation this year—a significant increase of 11 percentage points from last winter, signalling that winter getaways are once again top of mind for many Canadians.

The survey shows confidence is particularly strong among younger Canadians. 

Millennials lead the way with 52% planning a winter getaway, followed closely by Gen Z at 48% and Gen X at 46%. 

At 37%, Baby Boomers remain the most hesitant to travel, though their confidence improved 11 percentage points compared to last year, contributing significantly to the broader rebound.

Families are also driving the resurgence, with 56% of those with children at home planning to travel this winter compared to 42% of those without kids. 

Overall, the numbers represent a return to pre-pandemic norms.

Travel over the holiday season is showing a dramatic return. 

Nearly one-third of Canadians (32%) plan to travel outside their home province in late December, almost doubling last year's figure of 17%. 

Younger generations and families are leading this trend, with 46% of households with children planning holiday travel compared to 27% without kids.

When it comes to destinations, Canadians are split between warm-weather escapes and local adventures. 

Mexico and the Caribbean top the list at 30%, followed closely by domestic travel at 29%. 

The U.S. and Europe each account for 14%, while 13% plan to explore other international destinations.

Compared to last year, domestic travel plans have grown slightly, while U.S. travel is declining. 

Boomers are a key contributor to this trend, with only 8% planning to visit the U.S. on their next trip (down 19 percentage points from last year), with their focus instead on travel within Canada (39%) and to Mexico and the Caribbean (28%—up nine percentage points from last year).

"We're seeing a clear resurgence in Canadians' desire to travel, especially among younger generations," said Dan Keon, vice president of Marketing & Insights at Allianz Global Assistance Canada. 

"After a challenging year of economic pressures and geopolitical uncertainty, Canadians are prioritizing time away. With this renewed confidence, it's more important than ever to protect vacation plans with travel insurance."

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