Rewritten
Americans Overlooked: Canadians Prefer Visiting Mexico and the Caribbean over the U.S.
:headline: Canadians are snubbing the U.S. for exotic destinations, yet multinational travel corporations are still cashing in.
: Here's what's happening.
: Despite a downward trend in American visits, global travel companies are still raking in profits courtesy of Canadian travelers.
: Major travel executives revealed as much during their first-quarter earnings calls.
: Ellie Mertz, Airbnb's chief financial officer, admitted, "Canadians are traveling less to the U.S., but they're traveling more domestically, they are traveling to Mexico, they are going to Brazil, they're going to France, they're going to Japan... they are just choosing different destinations."
: Mark Hoplamazian, Hyatt's CEO, echoed these sentiments, highlighting a shift toward all-inclusive resorts in locales like the Bahamas due to a "bit of a cascade out of some U.S. resorts" for Canadian travelers.
: For gaming industry CEO Glenn Fogel, "Canadians are traveling less to the U.S., but we see them more traveling to Mexico at this moment."
: Delta Air Lines' president Glenn Hallenstein noticed a "significant dropoff in bookings" from Canada and anticipates reducing capacity levels. Similarly, United Airlines' CEO Scott Kirby reported a 9% year-over-year decline in Canadian passenger volumes to the U.S.
: Why the shift? Political and social tensions, economic pressures, and safety concerns are driving Canadians away from the U.S. A recent survey indicated that 60% of Canadians are less likely to travel to the U.S. in the next 12 months due to political instability, hostile trade policies, and negative rhetoric from U.S. leadership.[]
: A combination of factors is contributing to the exodus.
: Visa and border friction, escalating costs due to tariffs and import prices, and route cuts by airlines like United, WestJet, and Flair are compounding travelers' frustrations in the U.S.
: Worries about safety have also played a role. Canada’s own travel advisories have warned about risks in destinations such as Spain, France, and Mexico, but these warnings don’t seem to deter travelers' overwhelming preference for alternatives to the U.S.
: The economic impact of this trend is significant: the U.S. could lose 20.2% of Canadian visits in 2025, equating to billions in lost tourism revenue. March 2025 saw a 32% drop in Canadian road trips and a 13.5% decline in air travel to the U.S. year-over-year, reflecting broader global hesitancy toward U.S. travel.[]
: Sources:[] U.S. Travel Boycott: 60% Of Canadians Staying Away Because Of Trump (Forbes)[] 60% of Canadians less likely to travel to the U.S. due to Trump's policies and statements (CBC)[] Canadian travelers abandoning U.S. for Mexico, Europe and Asia due to Trump policies (Spotlight Report)
- Ellie Mertz, the chief financial officer of Airbnb, stated that while Canadians are traveling less to the USA, they are still venturing out, with destinations including Mexico, Brazil, France, Japan, and others.
- Mark Hoplamazian, the CEO of Hyatt, echoed Mertz's sentiments, highlighting a surge in popularity for all-inclusive resorts in destinations like the Bahamas due to a "cascade" of Canadian travelers moving away from U.S. resorts.
- Glenn Fogel, the CEO of a gaming industry company, also noted that Canadians are traveling less to the USA but are now more likely to visit Mexico.
- Delta Air Lines' president, Glenn Hallenstein, pointed out a significant dropoff in bookings from Canada, with a projected reduction in capacity levels as a result. Similarly, United Airlines' CEO, Scott Kirby, reported a 9% year-over-year decline in Canadian passenger volumes to the USA.
