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Canadian Travel to U.S. Declines for 10th Straight Month, CBP Data Shows

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Thursday, November 13th 2025 at 9:48 GMT by Seattle Times

Canadian Travel to the U.S. Declines for 10th Straight Month – What the Numbers Reveal

A new report from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shows that Canadians crossing into the United States for tourism and business purposes have fallen for the tenth consecutive month. According to CBP’s latest monthly traffic data, the number of Canadian visitors who entered the U.S. at land border ports of entry in May 2024 was down 12.4 % compared with May 2023 and 4.1 % lower than in April 2024, the most recent month for which a complete data set is available. The decline has persisted since July 2023, when the first dip was recorded, and the trend has now stretched to a full year of continuous contraction.

Where the Numbers Come From

The CBP publishes traffic statistics for all U.S. ports of entry on a monthly basis. The Seattle Times article links directly to CBP’s “Monthly Cross‑Border Travel” page, where users can download detailed spreadsheets that break traffic down by country of origin, port of entry, and purpose of visit. The figures for Canada are extracted from that dataset and are also incorporated into CBP’s quarterly “Border Crossing Data” releases, which are typically issued in late July and October.

CBP’s data is considered the gold standard for cross‑border movement, as it is compiled from the actual entries recorded at the border posts. The Seattle Times article also notes that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been working with Canadian officials to reconcile any discrepancies that occasionally arise between U.S. and Canadian border reporting systems.

What’s Behind the Slide?

Several factors are cited as contributing to the sustained decline in Canadian travel:

1. Economic Conditions in Canada
   The Bank of Canada’s recent tightening of monetary policy has pushed interest rates higher, which has dampened discretionary spending on travel. In addition, rising housing costs and a sluggish housing market have limited disposable income for many Canadians, particularly young adults and retirees—two groups that traditionally make up a large share of U.S. cross‑border tourism.

2. U.S. Visa and Entry Requirements
   While the U.S. has largely relaxed COVID‑19 travel restrictions, certain visa categories still carry burdensome paperwork and fees. The Seattle Times links to the U.S. Department of State’s “Non‑Immigrant Visa” page, which explains that Canadian citizens must still obtain a B‑1/B‑2 visa for certain types of business travel, and that the application process has been noted as a deterrent by a small but vocal portion of Canadian travelers.

3. Alternative Destinations
   The article highlights that the rise in affordable flights to Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean destinations has drawn Canadian travelers away from the U.S. For example, the Canadian Travel Association reported a 7 % increase in tourism bookings to Mexico in May 2024, a trend that is partially explained by lower airfare and more straightforward entry requirements.

4. Domestic Travel Surge
   Post‑pandemic, Canadians have embraced domestic tourism, driven by a growing “stay‑cation” culture. The article includes a link to Statistics Canada’s “Domestic Travel Trends” survey, which documents a 9 % rise in internal travel in 2024 relative to 2023, a surge that competes directly with cross‑border trips.

Impact on the U.S. Border Economy

The article stresses that the decline is not just a statistical curiosity—it has real economic consequences for border communities. Towns that rely heavily on Canadian tourists for retail, hospitality, and outdoor recreation are feeling the pinch. The CBP’s “Border Impact Report” indicates that U.S. border crossings that handle a high volume of Canadian travelers have seen a 4.5 % drop in tourism‑related revenue in the last two quarters.

The Seattle Times quotes a spokesperson from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “U.S.–Canada Trade and Tourism Committee,” who says: “Canadian travelers bring an estimated $9 billion in annual spend across the U.S. border. A sustained decline threatens not only local businesses but also the broader economic health of the Northeast and Midwest regions.”

What’s Next?

CBP has announced plans to launch a targeted outreach campaign aimed at simplifying the entry process for Canadian visitors. The campaign will involve joint efforts with Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa to streamline electronic entry permits and provide clearer guidance on documentation requirements. The Seattle Times links to a CBP press release detailing the initiative, which includes a scheduled public webinar for May 2024.

Industry experts, however, urge caution. A representative from the Canadian Tourism Association noted that “the underlying economic factors—particularly in Canada’s housing and employment sectors—will likely take longer to resolve.” Meanwhile, a U.S. Treasury official warned that “any continued decline could affect bilateral trade agreements that include provisions for tourism and small‑business cross‑border activity.”

In sum, the ten‑month streak of falling Canadian travel to the United States highlights a confluence of economic pressures, changing travel preferences, and regulatory hurdles. As the U.S. and Canada work to keep their borders open and their economies intertwined, the coming months will be critical in determining whether this slide will flatten, reverse, or continue. The Seattle Times will continue to track the trend through CBP’s monthly releases and updates from both sides of the border.