Michael Mortensen looked forward to spending two weeks with his family in Hawaii last month, but his patriotism didn’t let him.
The Vancouver-based development consultant and urban planner said President Donald Trump is refusing to spend money south of the border while “collecting ridiculous tariffs and rainy messes” on both Americans and Canadians.
Mortensen, 58, had budgeted about $10,000 for accommodation, food and entertainment, but is now exploring alternative destinations bypassing the US “without even connecting or layovers.” He added that he wrote a letter to the Hawaii governor and the state tourism board explaining his decision.
Trump’s escalating trade war against America’s closest allies and trading partners has not rattled stock markets or caused retaliation from Beijing, Brussels or Ottawa. It also promotes backlash among ordinary consumers who cross the northern border.
I prefer to direct my investments to a market where stability and mutual respect are priorities.
Lisa Cia, 56, Gatineau, Quebec
Last week’s survey by Canadian market researcher Leger found that two-thirds of Canadians have significantly reduced their purchases of American products (68%) and are unlikely to visit the US online (65%) (65%) (65%) (65%). Approximately 36% of Canadians in US travel plans say they have already cancelled them.
Another poll this month by the Montreal-based approach tour found even higher resistance among older Canadians.
According to the American Travel Association, Canadians visited the United States last year by an estimated 20 million visitors. However, industry groups warned last month that even a 10% decline in these visits would cost losses and 14,000 jobs. Already, the Canadian Statistics Agency reported a 23% decline in car trips in Canada last month compared to February 2024, and a 2.4% decline in DIP on resident round-trip air travel.
Lisa Cia, a university English professor in Gatineau, Quebec, plans to visit multiple California cities with three best friends in June. But “given the current political situation,” she said she was considering cancelling and losing money on their non-refundable flights.
“I prefer to direct investments to markets where stability and mutual respect are priorities,” said Shea (56).
Some Canadians plan to leave the US until Trump is away.
Camhayden, 69, the owner of the Edmonton Blues Festival and a regular at American Blues events across the United States, said he’s boycotting the country until he calls it “a sense of normalcy back” and a “conscience issue.”
Sam Chungyampin, 39, feels the same way. He was excited about the Coachella lineup this year, but has skipped the California music festival he attended three times before.
“We have no plans to go to the US for the next four years,” said the Vancouver-based marketing consultant. Trump “is giving everyone a headache. I’m so tired of this,” he said.
A White House spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. The president repeatedly dismissed criticism of his tariffs, promising that they would generate enormous revenue for Americans. “We’re going to be very rich, you don’t know where to spend all that money,” he said last week.
“There’s a sour mood towards the US,” said Christian Walters, Canada’s president and general manager of North American Marketing at tour organizer Interpid Travel. He said many Canadian customers are either turning away from the US for domestic travel or on short flights to destinations such as Mexico and Costa Rica.
As tariff threats hovered last month, Air Canada told investors it was preemptively reducing its March ability to Las Vegas and other leisure destinations in Florida, Arizona. An airline spokesman said last week that the situation remained “very fluid” and declined to comment further.
The CEO of Calgary-based Westjet told Canadian CTV News in mid-February that U.S. travel needs for Canadians have fallen by 25% since Trump’s tariff announcement. A Westjet spokesperson last week said last week that Mexican and Caribbean destinations are benefiting from interest in Americans.
With just three hours’ flight from Toronto, Bermuda is poised to thrive from this trend. The Hamilton Princess & Beach Club said it has received at least 10 inquiries from Canadians this summer, aiming to move or plan a new business event, wedding or leisure trip. Currently, the property is projecting a 20% revenue spike from the Canadian market due to a recent spike in interest.
Last year, Canadians accounted for around 40% of international visitors to Palm Beach County in South Florida, according to Palm Beach. Local tourism agencies estimated that these visits generated $5 billion in annual economic impacts. Worried about the dents on the spending, the group said they competed to trace the pitch that is taking place in Toronto.
“This trip has shifted to maintaining strong relationships with Canadian media and clients,” CEO Milton Segara said. Rather than highlighting new local attractions, he said, “We will also share special offers and deals to highlight the value of the destination to attendees.”
Thousand Island on the St. Lawrence River, a popular holiday area that spans upstate New York and southern Ontario, fell 3% in January from the same period last year, and 12% lower in the first two weeks of February the previous year.
Council director Corey Fulham says that marketing campaigns in the region usually showcase Canadian attractions along with Canadian attractions.
It is a similar predicament on the other side of Lake Ontario, and Niagara-regional tourism groups have recently said they are “actively revising the Buffalo Love Canada Campaign.” Transit across the borders of the region’s four international bridges has dropped by more than 14% last month from last year, with Canadian traffic to its website crashing by 45%.
The 1000 Islands Council is now coordinating its marketing to show American audience attractions on the US side of the border and do the opposite in Canada. At the same time, it unfolds a hopeful, divided distinction catchphrase.
Toronto-based travel blogger Liisa Ladouceur (51) has similarly split the differences. She canceled her marching trip to Las Vegas, but traveled to Detroit with her best friend in April and bought a ticket a few months ago.
But instead of spending around $1,000 in the long weekend at accommodation, shopping, dining and museums and around $1,000 in Motor City, they enter the US for a show, cross the Detroit River, staying overnight in Windsor, Ontario before heading home.
“Canadians recommend spending money on leisure trips here. “Now it feels like an obligation.”
