Newly released figures from Statistics Canada reveal a notable uptick in Canadian visits to the United States, marking the first increase since January 2025. According to the data disclosed this Tuesday, the number of return trips from the U.S. by Canadian residents rose by 1.8 per cent year-on-year in April, driven predominantly by an increase in car travel.
Car Travel Fuels Increase in U.S. Visits
The surge in trips is largely attributed to a significant rise in automobile travel, which saw an impressive 8.1 per cent increase, amounting to 1.5 million car trips. Notably, 65 per cent of these journeys were completed in a single day. Conversely, air travel from the U.S. to Canada decreased, with a decline of 7.1 per cent year-over-year, resulting in 805,900 air return trips. Overall, Canadians made a total of 2.4 million trips to the U.S. in April.
This shift comes in the wake of a prolonged period of reluctance among Canadians to travel south of the border, largely influenced by the previous U.S. administration’s trade tensions and controversial statements regarding Canada. The decline in travel was particularly evident in February 2026, when return trips by car dropped by 12.3 per cent to 1.2 million, while air travel also fell by 12 per cent in comparison to the previous year.
A Broader Increase in Canadian Travel
Alongside the rise in trips to the U.S., data indicates that Canadian residents also returned from 3.8 million trips abroad in April, representing a 2.1 per cent increase from the same month last year. This marks the first monthly year-over-year growth since February 2025, signalling a potential shift in travel sentiment among Canadians.
In addition, Canadians made 1.4 million return trips from overseas destinations in April, reflecting a 2.7 per cent year-on-year rise. These figures suggest a growing willingness among Canadians to explore international travel once more.
U.S. Visitors to Canada on the Rise
American travellers have also been increasingly visiting Canada, with 1.5 million trips recorded in April—an increase of 6.9 per cent compared to April of the previous year. This represents the third consecutive month of year-over-year growth in U.S. visits, further illustrating a positive trend in cross-border travel.
Despite the positive news from Canadian and American travellers, the number of overseas visitors arriving in Canada has seen a decline. In April 2026, 432,700 residents from other countries arrived in Canada, down 6.7 per cent from the same period last year. The decrease is primarily attributed to fewer arrivals from Europe, which saw a drop of 10.2 per cent, and Asia, down 6.2 per cent.
The United Kingdom remains the leading source of overseas visitors to Canada, with UK, French, and Mexican nationals collectively accounting for 30.4 per cent of all overseas arrivals.
Why it Matters
The recent increase in Canadian travel to the U.S. highlights a gradual recovery in cross-border tourism and suggests a shift in sentiment following years of tension. As travel dynamics evolve, understanding these trends is crucial for businesses and policymakers aiming to stimulate economic recovery in the tourism sector. The rise in both Canadian and American trips signifies a potential thawing of relations and a renewed enthusiasm for travel, which could have significant implications for the North American economy.