Vacationing in the U.S. comes with judgment from some: Canadian survey

Recent survey data reveal a shift in Canadian travel patterns: politics, not just cost or convenience, is increasingly shaping decisions about whether to visit the United States.

Between January 9 and 14, Abacus Data surveyed 1,850 Canadian adults to explore how political sentiment, particularly regarding the Trump administration, is influencing cross-border travel.

The survey found that the majority of respondents—68%—did not travel to the United States in the past year.

Of the 32% who did, most trips were for leisure (27%), with business trips accounting for 8%.

Travel patterns vary by age and region: younger Canadians and men are more likely to have traveled, while Canadians aged 60 and over are the least likely.

Geographically, Ontario and Alberta residents reported the highest travel rates, whereas Atlantic Canadians were the least likely to have crossed the border.

Politics as a travel deterrent

Among Canadians who did not travel, roughly one in three (34%) considered visiting the U.S. but ultimately decided against it due to their feelings about Donald Trump or perceptions of how the U.S. treats Canada—equating to about 23% of adults.

Older Canadians were especially likely to avoid travel for political reasons, with four in ten adults aged 60 and over reporting they opted out for these reasons.

Regional and partisan differences were also evident: Atlantic Canada and British Columbia saw the highest levels of politically influenced travel avoidance, while Quebec showed the lowest.

Liberal and NDP supporters were far more likely than Conservatives to cite politics as a reason for staying home.

Vacationing in the U.S. – the new moral signal

The survey also revealed that Canadian attitudes toward others’ travel choices are increasingly moralized.

About one-third of Canadians (33%) say they would think less of a close friend or family member who vacationed in the United States recently.

Younger Canadians were the most judgmental, with nearly half of those aged 18–29 expressing this view.

By contrast, only a minority of Canadians aged 60 and over said they would judge someone for taking a U.S. trip, the survey shows.

Political affiliation also shapes these perceptions. Bloc voters are the most likely to judge U.S.-bound friends or family, followed by Liberal and NDP voters.

Conservative voters are the least likely to view U.S. travel negatively, with only one-quarter saying it would affect their opinion of someone.

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