Canada-U.S. travel turnoff reversing after U.S. midterm elections

Detailed summary

Travel experts say the Democrats’ sweeping midterm victory is poised to fan a trend of rising Canadian visitor volumes to the United States.

MONTREAL — Travel experts say the Democrats’ sweeping midterm victory is poised to fan a trend of rising Canadian visitor volumes to the United States, counteracting the effect of the recent trade war flare-up.

Statistics Canada figures show that Canadian return trips from America rose three per cent in October compared to the same period last year, the seventh straight month of growth.

However, the increase amounted to less than half of the year-over-year spike from July through September.

Amra Durakovic, a spokesperson for the Flight Centre travel agency, says new bookings — distinct from trips taken — fell 26 per cent year-over-year last month in response to a fresh round of tariffs and taunts triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump weeks earlier.

Over the past week, Flight Centre and some other travel outlets have seen signs of a return to the cross-border travel rebound in the wake of the Democrats’ electoral success on Nov. 3, widely viewed as a rebuke to White House policies.

Canadian visitor volumes remain far below levels from 2024, as the trade war drags on and Canadians opt for other destinations.

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