Flight Centre Canada: Canadians Cool on U.S. Travel
Posted on: August 3, 2025, 12:23h.
Last updated on: August 3, 2025, 02:11h.
- Tariff battle impacts Canadian travel to U.S.
- Flight Centre Canada spokesperson says Canadians looking for other travel options
There’s been plenty written of late about more Canadians cancelling travel to the United States, including to casino-specific destinations, like Nevada and New Jersey.
Canadians Opting More For European Travel
Flight Centre Canada is a leading travel agency in the country, with over 200 locations nationwide, offering travel services, including flights, cruises, vacation packages, tours, hotels and car rentals.
Last week the company issued a study that only bolstered the narrative about Canadians and U.S. travel.
According to Flight Centre Canada, booking to destinations like California, Florida and New York dropped for a fifth straight month, a shift in travel that was also reflected in a Statistics Canada statement in July.
“Canadians are swapping quick trips for lifestyle-driven travel choices,” says Amra Durakovic, Flight Centre spokesperson. “From Lisbon to Tokyo, we’re seeing familia U.S. favourites take a backseat.”
Trump Tariffs a Factor
This is directly tied to what’s going on in Las Vegas, which saw an end to a four-month slide, as June casino revenue on the Strip was positive for the first time since January. Still, Las Vegas in June saw an 11.3% drop in the number of visitors compared to the previous year. The tourism slump has been driven be steep cost increases all around, with visitors balking at inflated resort fees, $100 buffets and $9 coffees.
[Las Vegas] has long been a go-to for celebrations, entertainment and convenience. But with 76% of Canadians saying they’d consider less-crowded destinations, travellers are now spending their dollars more thoughtfully—sometimes swapping long-time favourites for somewhere new,” she said.
Some of the reasons for fewer Canadians travelling to the U.S. include the weaker Canadian dollar and trade uncertainty, led by a trade tariff battle, but Durakovic also pointed to a growing appetite for something fresh. According to a recent YouGov survey conducted for Flight Centre, Canadians are prioritizing meaningful experiences: 56% travel to experience new cultures, 52% for nature-based escapes, and 58% to de-stress.
Whether it’s a coastal escape at home or a longer international trip, travellers want to feel their time and money are well spent, Durakovic.
More People Booking Cruises
Internationally, Europe is still a top choice, with Athens, Dublin, London and Paris leading the way. Durakovic also said Flight Centre is also seeing rising interest in vacations to Argentina, Australia, Japan, Mexico and South Korea, thanks to better air connectivity and a stronger Canadian dollar against those currencies.
Cruising is growing too—42% of Canadians say they are likely to prioritize a cruise holiday this year. Mediterranean sailings are in high demand, especially through Greece, Italy, Morocco and Spain, while voyages through the British Isles, Galápagos Islands and the South Pacific continue to build momentum.
According to Durakovic, it’s less about pulling away from the U.S. and more about exploring beyond the usual favourites.
No comments yet