Canadian Visits to US Cities Drop 42% Amid Trade Tensions, Study Finds

Toronto — Canadian neighbors are visiting US cities far less than before.

A University of Toronto study points to a roughly 42% reduction in visits to US cities by Canadian residents last year. The decline, much steeper than official border crossing statistics indicate, stems largely from rising political and trade tensions between the two countries.

Researchers tracked cellphone activity and found a year-over-year median decline of approximately 42% in Canadian visits to US metropolitan areas.

Official statistics show the number of Canadians who entered Canada after returning from the US in 2025 fell 25%. The number of US residents visiting Canada dropped 75%.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, recorded the largest decline, with 65% fewer Canadian residents returning home from the East Coast vacation spot. Yuma, Arizona, saw a 62% decrease. San Francisco and Florida cities including Miami, Palm Bay and Panama City ranked among the top 10 US metro areas with more than 50% drops in visiting Canadians last year.

The study's authors note that beyond fewer vacation trips, visits to major economic hubs also fell sharply.

"High-tech and financial centers like San Francisco and Houston appear to be experiencing reductions not only in tourists but also in business-related travel, reflecting changing travel preferences due to broader economic uncertainties on both sides of the border," the study states.

Since President Trump's second term began, some Canadians have boycotted US goods and travel over sweeping tariffs, stricter immigration policies and the American leader's remarks about making Canada the 51st US state.

Earlier this year, Florida tourism leaders contacted Canadian counterparts to encourage travel despite backlash to Trump's policies and comments.

"We're doing what we can, just as we are with any country outside the United States, to make sure that visitation remains strong," Visit Florida President and CEO Bryan Griffin said in February, before meetings with Canadian officials.