The Great Canadian Vacation Dilemma: Trump Drive More Tourists South to Mexico
Canadians venture to Mexico in droves, spurred by Trump's policies
No Stateside for Canadians! Donald Trump's policies and antics have sent Canadian holidaymakers flocking to Mexico in record numbers. The Land of the Free is seeing a significant drop in Canadian visitors, and airlines are responding by creating new travel routes.
Trump's latest round of tariffs only spared Mexico. But his preexisting import restrictions still leave goods outside of the USMCA agreement facing a 25 percent duty, hurting the economy. On the flip side, Mexico is thriving as a tourist destination, thanks to Trump's chaotic tariff game.
Canadians refraining from visiting the USA due to political reasons are choosing sun-kissed Mexican shores for their vacations instead. According to a report by the "Financial Times," tourist numbers have skyrocketed. This travel trend also led some airlines to establish new flights to Mexico.
Economy: Canada-USA Vacation Slump? Number of USA Visitors Plummets Apparently, the number of Canadians traveling to Mexico increased by nearly 15 percent in March compared to the previous year. Conversely, Canadian air travel to the USA dropped by over 13 percent in the same period. Car border crossings plummeted by a third, says Canada's statistics agency.
Some airlines have allegedly reduced flights from Canada to the USA in favor of Mexico-bound trips. Air Canada and Air Transat are introducing non-stop flights to Guadalajara. They're also beefing up their winter connections to other destinations in Mexico.
Trump: "We're Treating Tourists like Kings!"
Mexico's tourism minister, Rodríguez Zamora, told the "Financial Times" their relationship with Canada has grown stronger, like a brotherhood. Recent visitor numbers support this claim, as Canadians seem to prefer a friendlier policy and travel to their neighboring country instead of the USA.
In Canada, a wave of nationalism paired with Trump's threats of annexation and high tariffs has led to a boycott of American goods and travel. Stories of harsh treatment toward tourists at the U.S. border don't help either. Fewer Mexicans are visiting the USA as well. In March 2025, the number of Mexican tourists flying to the USA decreased by a quarter compared to 2024, according to the U.S. commerce department.
Economy: Tourism Suffers from Trump Effect: Fewer People Want to Spend Their Holidays in the USA Overall, the commerce department recorded a 12 percent decrease in foreign tourists in March. Trump brushes off these numbers, insisting, "We're treating our tourists like kings!" He doubts a bit of nationalism has anything to do with it.
- The community policy under Trump's administration has driven more Canadians to opt for vocational training in Mexico, instead of traveling to the USA, due to the political climate.
- Concerns about tariffs have not affected Mexican tourist destinations as much as American ones, with the latter facing a 25% duty on goods outside of the USMCA agreement.
- In a bid to cash in on this trend, airlines such as Air Canada and Air Transat have launched non-stop flights to Guadalajara, Mexico, and increased their winter connections to other Mexican destinations.
- The General News periodically updates on the current migration patterns, with statistics showing a 15% increase in Canadians traveling to Mexico and a 13% drop in Canadian air travel to the USA.
- In the realm of politics, Trump's policies towards international trade and travel have raised questions about the impact on lifestyle and tourism, particularly in the war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice sectors.
- With the Trump Effect seemingly taking a toll on the USA's tourism industry, many now communicate their travel choices via WhatsApp groups, sharing tips on the friendlier policy and better treatment towards tourists in Mexico.
