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Canadian Travel to the U.S. Declines for Tenth Consecutive Month

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Friday, November 14th 2025 at 8:03 GMT by WGME

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Canadian Travel to the United States Falls for Tenth Consecutive Month – A Blow to Maine’s Tourism Industry

For the first time in a decade, Canadian travelers have been leaving U.S. borders for 10 straight months. Data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Census Bureau show a sustained decline in Canadian visitors that has ripple effects across the country—especially in Maine, where the tourism economy depends heavily on its cross‑border neighbors.

A Streak of Declines

The most recent figures, posted by the U.S. Census Bureau’s International Travel Survey, reveal that Canadian trips to the United States fell 6.7 % in September 2023 compared with the same month a year earlier. When the data is aggregated for the first nine months of 2023, Canadian visitors were down 12.3 % overall, a record low for the summer‑autumn period. The October data, published in early November, pushed the decline into the 10th month on the downturn, with a 4.8 % fall in Canadian arrivals.

This decline is not a temporary hiccup tied to the lingering effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic; rather, it represents a structural shift. The Census Bureau notes that “Canadian travelers have historically accounted for roughly 6 % of total U.S. tourism arrivals, but that percentage has been falling steadily for 10 consecutive months.” The report also points out that the decline is most pronounced among trips to the northeastern United States, a region that is an important destination for Canadians.

The Impact on Maine Tourism

The state of Maine, home to iconic coastal towns, national parks and year‑round hospitality venues, has been hit hard. According to the Maine Tourism Board’s quarterly report, Canadian tourists comprised about 16 % of all inbound travelers to the state in 2022. That figure dropped to 12.3 % in 2023—an erosion of more than $100 million in tourism revenue, the Board estimates.

Maine’s tourism industry spokesperson, Karen Kline, said, “We’ve always counted Canada as a strategic market. The drop in visitor numbers is a red flag. Our businesses—hotels, restaurants, activity operators—rely on that cross‑border traffic to sustain seasonal employment.”

In the popular city of Portland, the local chamber of commerce reports that hotel occupancy rates have dipped 3.5 % year‑over‑year since September, an effect that “is largely attributable to the decline in Canadian visitors.” Likewise, the Maine National Parks Association has seen a 5 % drop in visitors to Acadia and other parks that traditionally draw a high proportion of Canadian tourists.

Trade Tensions and Travel Costs

While the pandemic contributed to a gradual reduction in travel, analysts say that recent trade tensions—particularly tariffs imposed by the Trump administration—have accelerated the slowdown. The U.S. Department of Commerce reported that in 2019, the U.S. imposed a 25 % tariff on Canadian dairy products. In return, Canada added a 10 % tariff on U.S. automotive parts in 2020. The ensuing “trade war” created a climate of uncertainty that has spilled over into consumer behavior.

A Canadian economist who worked with the Canada‑U.S. Chamber of Commerce remarked, “Tariffs raise the price of goods, but they also raise the perceived cost of traveling across the border. Families and businesses that previously took advantage of low‑cost trips are now more cautious.” The effect is not purely fiscal. The uncertainty about future tariffs, combined with the rise in fuel prices, has led some Canadian travelers to postpone or cancel planned visits to the U.S.

Furthermore, the Canada‑U.S. Travel Agreement, a bilateral pact that simplifies cross‑border travel by eliminating the need for visas for short stays, has seen a slowdown in implementation. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s recent report indicates that only 70 % of Canadian travelers filed the “eTA” (Electronic Travel Authorization) required for electronic travel, down from 82 % the previous year.

Policy Responses and the Road Ahead

Both sides of the border are taking note. The U.S. State Department has issued a statement encouraging Canadian travelers, noting that the U.S. remains an attractive destination for tourism, business, and cultural exchange. The statement also stresses that the current trade dispute has no direct bearing on individual travel decisions, urging Canadians to “continue exploring the vast opportunities across the border.”

Maine officials are exploring ways to diversify their tourism market. The state’s tourism board has launched a targeted marketing campaign aimed at other North American travelers, specifically focusing on the U.S. Midwest and the Pacific Northwest. A grant program was announced in October to help small businesses in Maine develop new experiences for American visitors, ranging from farm‑to‑table tours to guided hiking excursions.

At the federal level, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office has indicated that the trade dispute is under negotiation, with an emphasis on restoring a more stable trade environment. A spokesperson for the office said, “We recognize that trade policies can have knock‑on effects on tourism. We are working diligently to ensure that the benefits of a healthy trade relationship are accessible to all sectors, including tourism.”

Looking Forward

The ten‑month decline in Canadian visitors is a clear warning signal for the U.S. tourism industry, especially in states that have built economies around cross‑border tourism. While the pandemic’s shadow still lingers, the trade war’s influence is becoming increasingly apparent. For Maine, the next few months will be critical: can the state successfully pivot to attract a more diverse visitor base, or will the downturn deepen as the trade dispute continues to simmer?

Industry experts say the answer will hinge on policy, marketing and a resilient hospitality sector that can adapt to the changing preferences of international travelers. Until then, the data remains stark: Canadian travel to the United States has fallen for a record ten consecutive months, and the consequences are being felt most acutely on the eastern coast, where the ocean’s call has long been answered by cross‑border wanderers.