Read as article
Canadians Still Skipping US Trips Despite World Cup
By @sharedot · · 6 pages
TravelAwaits reports Canadian travel to the US has not rebounded in 2026, with spending down $790 million early in the year despite the FIFA World Cup.
A Second Wave of Pushback
TravelAwaits, citing reporting from The Travel, says US-bound travel from Canada has not rebounded this year — even with the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup drawing matches to American cities. The outlet reports the US hospitality sector missed out on $3.3 billion from Canadian travelers in 2025, with Florida, Las Vegas, and the Southwest hit especially hard by a lack of winter visitors. According to TravelAwaits, renewed tariff disputes have turned what was once a personal spending choice into organized economic solidarity, with some Canadian airlines such as Porter Airlines pulling American alcohol from in-flight menus.
The Numbers Behind the Slump
The scale of the pullback is measurable. TravelAwaits cites Statistics Canada data showing Canadian tourist spending in the United States dropped by $790 million between January and March of this year. There were some signs of recovery starting in April, with steady gains through the summer, but the outlet suggests the overall trajectory remains far below normal.
Even New York Feels the Pinch
The impact reaches well beyond border cities. TravelAwaits reports that New York City is feeling the loss, with its official tourism page now declaring, "New York loves Canada. We're lucky to have neighbors like you!" According to the outlet, the Financial Times spoke with one NYC tour provider who said Canadians made up 30 to 40% of his clients in 2024; today that figure is closer to ten percent. The Financial Times also reports some destinations are offering special deals aimed specifically at winning Canadian visitors back.
Where the Fall Trips Go Instead
As cross-border trips shrink, attention shifts to destinations inside North America that are actively courting travelers. In a separate piece carried by Yahoo Lifestyle Canada, Travel & Leisure reports that five travel experts all named the same US Halloween destination: Salem, Massachusetts, whose month-long Haunted Happenings festival, per the article, welcomes more than a million visitors each October.