Canadians Show Moderate Interest Towards Traveling to the United States, According to Flight Centre Canada
In an unexpected turn of events, Canadians are reconsidering their travel plans, with a significant drop in visits to the United States, including popular casino-specific destinations like Nevada and New Jersey. This shift in travel trends has been observed for a fifth consecutive month, as reported by Flight Centre Canada, a leading travel agency in the country.
According to Amra Durakovic, a spokesperson for Flight Centre Canada, 76% of Canadians are now considering less-crowded destinations. This change in travel behaviour can be attributed to a combination of economic factors, political tensions, and shifting travel preferences.
Economic considerations, such as favourable currency exchange rates and costs, make Europe a more attractive option compared to the U.S. In addition, political tensions between Canada and the U.S. are influencing travellers to seek alternatives like Europe. Canadians are increasingly drawn to European cultural and leisure experiences over U.S. destinations.
The decline in road travel to the U.S. has dropped 33% year over year in June 2025, and air travel to the U.S. has fallen 22%, reflecting reduced demand. Statistical evidence supports this trend, with Canadian return trips from the U.S. falling by 31.9% in May 2025 compared to the previous year, while return trips from overseas countries, including European destinations, increased by 8.9%.
The end to a four-month slide in Las Vegas' casino revenue occurred in June 2025. Inflated resort fees, $100 buffets, and $9 coffees are factors contributing to the tourism slump in Las Vegas.
However, Europe remains a top choice for Canadians, with Athens, Dublin, London, and Paris leading the way. Canadians are also opting for more lifestyle-driven travel choices, swapping U.S. favourites for destinations like Lisbon and Tokyo.
Interestingly, rising interest in vacations to Argentina, Australia, Japan, Mexico, and South Korea is due to better air connectivity and a stronger Canadian dollar against those currencies. Furthermore, 42% of Canadians are likely to prioritize a cruise holiday this year, with Mediterranean sailings in high demand, especially through Greece, Italy, Morocco, and Spain.
This shift in travel was also reflected in a Statistics Canada statement in July. Canadians are spending their travel dollars more thoughtfully, with 56% travelling to experience new cultures, 52% for nature-based escapes, and 58% to de-stress.
The article was posted on August 3, 2025, at 12:23h and was last updated on the same day at 02:11h.
[1] Economic and political factors drive shift in Canadian travel preferences. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.flightcentre.ca/news/economic-and-political-factors-drive-shift-in-canadian-travel-preferences
[2] Canadian travel trends: A statistical analysis. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.statcan.gc.ca/travel-voyage/2025/analysis-analyse/trends-trends-eng.html
[3] Road and air travel to the U.S. sees significant drop in June 2025. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.flightcentre.ca/news/road-and-air-travel-to-the-u-s-sees-significant-drop-in-june-2025
[4] The rise of lifestyle-driven travel choices. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.flightcentre.ca/news/the-rise-of-lifestyle-driven-travel-choices
[5] Canadians prioritizing travel to less-crowded destinations. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.flightcentre.ca/news/canadians-prioritizing-travel-to-less-crowded-destinations
- Canadians are intentionally selecting European destinations like Athens, Dublin, London, and Paris, over popular casino locations in the United States, such as Las Vegas, due to a combination of favorable economic factors and differing cultural experiences.
- The decline in road and air travel to the United States, including Nevada and New Jersey, has resulted in a significant reduction in casino-specific travel for Canadians, as they look toward less-crowded destinations, such as Argentina, Australia, Japan, Mexico, and South Korea, with better air connectivity and a favorable exchange rate.
- Canadians are focusing on lifestyle-driven travel choices, favoring European cities like Lisbon and Tokyo over traditional U.S. destinations, and are increasingly considering cruises, particularly Mediterranean sailings, for their vacation plans.
