Cross-border travel to U.S. from Canada weakened in September: StatCan

Cross-border travel between Canada and the United States continued to weaken in September, according to new data from Statistics Canada, reflecting the growing impact of global uncertainty and geopolitical conflict on North American mobility.

In total, international arrivals to Canada — including both returning residents and foreign visitors — reached 4.8 million in September 2025, a 15.6% decline compared with September 2024, StatCan reports. 

This marks the eighth consecutive month of year-over-year decreases in cross-border movement, signalling a sustained slowdown in international travel.

Sharp declines in Canadian travel to U.S.

The most pronounced drop came from Canadian travellers returning from the United States, both by air and by road.

Air travel fell 27.1 per cent, with just 372,000 Canadians returning from U.S. destinations.

Automobile crossings plummeted even further, down 34.8 per cent to 1.4 million trips — the ninth straight monthly decline.

READ MORE: Many Canadians travelled local during summer, avoided U.S.: Leger study

The drop was not uniform across the country. British Columbia recorded a sharp 99.2 per cent increase in return volume on key travel days, while Ontario and Manitoba saw more modest upticks. 

However, these daily surges failed to offset the broader downward trend.

The slowdown in southbound Canadian travel reflects a mix of factors, including ongoing geopolitical conflict over tariffs, the weak loonie and U.S. President Donald Trump’s annexation threats. 

Higher travel costs, driven by the U.S. dollar’s strength and elevated fuel prices, may also be discouraging discretionary trips.

American visitors pull back

The number of U.S. residents entering Canada fell modestly compared to last year.

Arrivals by air slipped 0.4 per cent, to 478,900, while automobile trips dropped 5.3 per cent, with about 1.1 million Americans crossing the land border into Canada in September, StatCan reports. 

Despite the decline, Statistics Canada noted small spikes in U.S. arrivals on certain weekends, including September 19–20, when cross-border leisure travel temporarily increased by 3.6% compared to earlier weekends.

Overseas visitors offset losses

While North American traffic declined, overseas arrivals to Canada offered a small bright spot.

More than 516,800 overseas visitors entered the country by air in September — a 4.2 per cent increase from a year earlier. 

READ MORE: U.S. considering review of airport pre-clearance amid drop in Canadian travel

Total non-resident air arrivals reached 1.0 million, up 1.9 per cent, buoyed by travellers from Europe and Asia resuming long-haul journeys after a sluggish start to the year.

Labour Day (September 1) remained a major travel day for Canadians, with 66,800 returning by air and 119,500 by car, far above daily averages. 

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 also saw elevated cross-border movement, suggesting a possible uptick in short-term leisure travel around long weekends.

For now, overseas travel to and from Canada appears more resilient — but the continent’s once-seamless north-south tourism corridor continues to show strain.

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.