Newly released data from Statistics Canada paints a clear picture of shifting travel patterns, showing a significant decline in the number of trips Canadians took to the United States this past October.
A Sharp Decline in Cross-Border Traffic
Canadian residents made 2.3 million return trips from the United States in October, a substantial decrease of 26.3 per cent compared to the same month last year. This figure is roughly consistent with the travel volume seen in September, suggesting a continued trend as colder weather sets in. Despite this drop, travel to and from the U.S. still represented the majority of international trips for Canadians, accounting for 70.1 per cent of all journeys abroad during the month.
Breaking Down the Numbers: Cars, Planes, and Cruise Ships
The decline was felt across most modes of transportation. Return trips from the U.S. by automobile saw the steepest fall, dropping 30.2 per cent year-over-year to 1.6 million. Air travel also decreased, though less sharply, with trips down 15.1 per cent to approximately 685,100.
In a contrasting trend, travel to Canada by U.S. residents increased by three per cent to 1.8 million visits, marking the first year-over-year increase after eight consecutive months of decline. Arrivals by car held steady, while air arrivals rose 6.3 per cent to 448,000 trips. A notable surge was seen in cruise ship tourism, with 122,800 U.S. residents disembarking in Canada, a jump of 22.2 per cent from October 2024.
Overseas Travel Shows Growth
While travel to the neighbouring U.S. cooled, interest from farther afield warmed up. Trips to Canada by residents from overseas countries increased by 11.7 per cent in October, reaching 549,000. The vast majority, 81 per cent, arrived by aircraft. This growth was primarily driven by visitors from Europe, where arrivals rose 10.5 per cent, and Asia, which saw a 14.9 per cent increase.
Canadians themselves also showed a greater appetite for transoceanic destinations. Overall return trips from overseas locations increased 9.1 per cent compared to October of the previous year, with air travel specifically up 9.6 per cent to 997,500 trips.
On a seasonally-adjusted basis, which accounts for regular seasonal fluctuations, the data indicates a modest upward trend. U.S.-resident arrivals to Canada were up 1.5 per cent, while overseas-resident arrivals increased 2.5 per cent. Seasonally-adjusted return trips by Canadians from overseas also rose 2.3 per cent.
