-
Canadians Shift Travel Focus from U.S. to Global Destinations Amid Trade Tensions – Image Credit Unsplash
- Canadian travelers are increasingly opting for international destinations over U.S. trips due to ongoing trade tensions.
- Popular destinations include Buenos Aires, Osaka, and Copenhagen, with significant increases in travel spending by Canadians.
In recent months, Canadian travelers have been rethinking their vacation plans, opting for international destinations instead of the United States. This shift is largely attributed to the ongoing trade tensions between the two countries.
Kelly Bergquist from Edmonton, who once visited the U.S. annually, is now considering destinations like Mexico and the Balkans. Her sentiment reflects a broader trend among Canadians who are seeking alternatives to U.S. travel. Data from Flight Centre Canada indicates a surge in Canadian travel spending to countries such as Argentina, Japan, and Denmark, with Buenos Aires seeing a remarkable 148% increase.
Tourism organizations worldwide are noticing this trend. Japan reported a 23% increase in Canadian visitors in the first half of the year, while Portugal and Brazil also saw notable rises in Canadian tourists.
Andrew Stafford from Flight Centre in Vancouver noted that Canadians are consolidating shorter U.S. trips into longer international vacations. The Marival Group in Mexico has experienced a 5-6% increase in Canadian guests, prompting targeted marketing campaigns to attract more Canadian travelers.
Joan Allison from Windsor, Ontario, is among those choosing destinations like Portugal over her usual U.S. trips, citing political and economic concerns. Wayne Smith from Toronto Metropolitan University highlights that Canadians are seeking destinations where they feel safe and welcomed, suggesting a potential long-term decline in Canadian travel to the U.S.
Discover more at CBC.
