After a year and a half of reduced travel to the U.S., Canadian visitors are slowly beginning to return. Recent data from Statistics Canada shows that in June, the number of Canadian residents returning from the U.S. increased by 3.2% compared to the same period last year. This marks the third consecutive month of growth, following rises of 9.5% in May and 1.4% in April.
The rise in inbound travel from the U.S. was primarily driven by more Canadians returning via car, with a 5.2% increase in car travel compared to the previous June. However, air travel back from the U.S. in June saw a 3.8% decrease year-over-year.
Despite the slight increase in car travel, Canadian visits to the U.S. are still significantly below pre-trade war levels, indicating that a full recovery for the U.S. tourism industry may still be some time away.
Compared to June 2024, Canadian return travel from the U.S. last month was down by a substantial 28.7%. Wayne Smith, a professor at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Research, views the recent uptick as a gradual return to normal levels of travel rather than a complete shift in travel behaviors.
Kristy Kennedy, VP of marketing and operations at the North Country Chamber of Commerce, noted a slight increase in Canadian travelers in New York State near the Quebec border. She mentioned that the Chamber has been running campaigns to foster cross-border relations and is optimistic about the potential for increased travel between the two countries.
Amir Eylon, president of travel consultancy Longwoods International, suggests that promotional campaigns offering discounts and favorable exchange rates may have contributed to the recent increase in cross-border travel. The impact of rising airfare costs and the recent World Cup hosted by Canada, the U.S., and Mexico could also have influenced travel decisions.
While the recent growth in cross-border travel is encouraging, Smith warns that challenges such as changing travel habits and the weak Canadian dollar could hinder the U.S.’s ability to attract Canadian visitors back in significant numbers.