North Carolina and Oregon Unite with Florida, New York, Nevada, Arizona, California, Alaska as Canadian Travel to the US Plunges This April Amid Political Backlash and Tourism Boycott – Travel And Tour World

Canadian travel to the United States has plunged this April as North Carolina and Oregon unite with Florida, New York, Nevada, Arizona, California, and Alaska in reporting steep declines in visitor numbers from their northern neighbor—an alarming shift fueled by mounting political backlash, a growing tourism boycott movement, and rising disillusionment among Canadian travelers over the current state of U.S. affairs. Once among the most dependable international visitors, Canadians are now increasingly choosing alternative destinations, citing concerns over the political climate, cultural discomfort, safety perceptions, and dissatisfaction with immigration experiences. According to official data, land travel from Canada to the U.S. dropped by 35.2% in April 2025 compared to the same time last year, while air travel declined 19.9%, marking one of the most significant cross-border travel retreats in recent memory. Across all seven affected states, hotel bookings are down, tour operators are struggling, and tourism boards are scrambling to repair fractured relationships as the ripple effects begin to weigh on local economies built on decades of steady Canadian travel.

Canada Turns Away as Travel to US Plummets Across Nine Key States

Canadian travel to the United States has entered a sharp and unified decline, as official data from April 2025 confirms a widespread pullback in cross-border tourism. A combination of political tensions, shifting public sentiment, economic pressure, and disaster recovery challenges has driven this sudden freeze in travel, leaving states from the Pacific Northwest to the Southeast struggling to fill empty hotel rooms and recover lost revenue.

According to Tourism Economics, Canadian land travel returning from the U.S. dropped by 35.2% in April, while air travel fell by 19.9%. Tourism analysts now expect an overall 20% decline in Canadian visits to the U.S. for the year. The numbers reflect more than a dip—they signal a broader rejection, playing out visibly across nine deeply impacted states.

Oregon

Portland has reported a significant fall in Canadian visitors this spring. Travel Portland estimates a roughly 20% drop overall, with the steepest declines among leisure travelers. Tour guide Shannon Krahel noted that most Canadians she’s met are in town for conventions and that many openly admitted they would not have visited otherwise.

Marcus Hibden, Vice President of Communications and International Tourism for Travel Portland, said the shift is clear: Canadians are choosing other destinations. In response, Oregon has launched outreach initiatives in partnership with the Vancouver Chamber of Commerce to rekindle interest among Canadian travelers. Campaigns are also underway to bring Canadian influencers and media back to Portland.

Kieron Wilde of First Nature Tours said the absence of Canadian tourists is already impacting hotel revenues, which are closely tied to local lodging taxes. Some Canadians, he said, have even stated they won’t return until there’s a change in the U.S. presidency.

North Carolina

In Asheville, Canadian tourism has collapsed in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Though downtown Asheville sustained no damage, widespread national media coverage of the storm discouraged travel to the region. Jennifer Lauzon, co-owner of LaZoom Tours, said business is down 45% from its pre-storm levels. Despite receiving an SBA loan, the company is operating at reduced capacity.

According to the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, April hotel occupancy dropped to 64%, a 7% decline from the previous year. Lodging tax revenue fell 20%. Asheville tourism officials are now working to reverse perceptions, investing heavily in campaigns to remind visitors that the city is open and safe.

Florida

Florida experienced one of the most dramatic falls in Canadian travel, with OAG reporting a 76% drop in Canadian airline bookings in April. In 2024, the state welcomed more than 3.3 million Canadian visitors, but this spring, resorts and hotels across Fort Lauderdale, Naples, and Sarasota have reported mass cancellations and record-low occupancy rates.

Hospitality businesses are struggling, with some operators saying April 2025 brought more cancellations than even the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The drop is affecting both seasonal snowbirds and spring travelers, and the state is now facing a severe loss in tourism-driven income.

Maine

Maine’s tourism industry is reeling from a 38% decline in Canadian border crossings in April, particularly in towns like Calais, Houlton, and Madawaska. Local inns and small businesses that rely on regular weekend traffic from New Brunswick and Quebec are reporting historic lows in customer turnout.

Business owners say the downturn is hurting entire communities, with some reporting the worst spring season in over a decade. Outreach efforts, including promotional discounts and local media campaigns, have thus far failed to bring back cross-border travelers.

New York

Upstate New York reported a 22% drop in Canadian border crossings in April, while projections for New York City suggest the city could lose over 400,000 Canadian tourists in 2025. The expected financial impact is severe, with analysts forecasting a $4 billion loss in tourism revenue across the state.

The absence is affecting everything from Broadway theaters and hotels to small retail outlets and local restaurants. With visa delays and the rising U.S. dollar adding to the decline, tourism officials are now pushing for federal action to support cross-border recovery.

California

California has experienced a wave of Canadian cancellations, with travelers citing political discomfort and cultural unease as reasons for calling off trips. Some tourists reportedly forfeited deposits rather than travel to the U.S.

From San Diego to San Francisco, hospitality professionals are reporting lighter bookings and shortened stays. The loss is being felt across both urban tourism centers and smaller wine country destinations, with many local operators concerned about long-term damage to Canadian travel relationships.

Nevada

Las Vegas has recorded a noticeable drop in Canadian tourism, particularly in convention attendance and mid-tier casino visits. While the Strip continues to draw domestic visitors, operators have reported reduced group bookings from Canada and decreased weekday hotel stays.

The decline is also impacting spending patterns, with casinos and show venues reporting lower bar tabs and shorter guest stays. Some hospitality insiders say the downturn is worse than anticipated and will require targeted international marketing to recover.

Arizona

Arizona, a top destination for Canadian snowbirds, is facing an abrupt withdrawal. Longtime visitors who typically spend winters in Phoenix, Tucson, and Scottsdale are now shortening their stays—or skipping the state altogether. Some have even sold their vacation homes, citing unease with the U.S. political climate.

The tourism drop has impacted RV parks, golf resorts, and seasonal rentals. The absence of Canadian guests, who often stay for weeks or months, has left a visible gap in the economy, particularly in suburban and desert towns heavily reliant on long-term tourism.

Alaska

In Alaska, towns like Haines and Tok, which see high volumes of overland traffic from Canada during the spring and summer, are experiencing a quieter season. Typically bustling with Alberta and British Columbia license plates by May, roadways and campgrounds are now underused.

Tourism operators in southern Alaska report fewer reservations and less foot traffic at visitor centers. For small businesses that depend on cross-border travel—particularly from RV and adventure tourists—the decline represents a substantial seasonal loss with no easy replacement.

A Fragile Relationship Under Pressure

The decline in Canadian travel to the U.S. is now playing out in numbers too large to ignore and stories too similar to dismiss. Across nine states, the same patterns are repeating: bookings are down, hotels are emptier, tour operators are scaling back, and local economies are feeling the chill. Whether rooted in politics, economics, disaster recovery, or changing values, the Canadian boycott is reshaping America’s tourism map.

Without a change in perception—and perhaps in leadership—the recovery will be slow, and for many, uncertain. The ties between the two countries may still be strong, but on the ground, in cities, towns, and border crossings, they’ve never felt so strained.