After a period of decreased travel to the U.S., Canadians are slowly starting to venture across the border again. Recent data from Statistics Canada shows that in June, the number of Canadian residents returning from the U.S. increased by 3.2% compared to the same month last year. This marks the third consecutive month of growth, following a 9.5% rise in May and a 1.4% increase in April.
The rise in inbound travel was primarily driven by a 5.2% increase in car travel, while air travel from the U.S. to Canada decreased by 3.8% year-over-year in June. Despite this uptick in car travel, the overall volume of Canadian visits to the U.S. remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels.
Compared to June 2024, Canadian return travel from the U.S. in June 2025 was down by 28.7%. Wayne Smith, a professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, views this recent increase as a gradual return to normal for Canadian travel to the U.S., rather than a complete shift in trends.
Kristy Kennedy, VP of marketing and operations at the North Country Chamber of Commerce, notes a modest increase in Canadian travelers visiting New York State near the Quebec border. She attributes this uptick to ongoing efforts to mend cross-border relations through various campaigns and initiatives.
Amir Eylon, president of Longwoods International, suggests that promotional campaigns offering discounts and favorable exchange rates may have enticed some Canadians to resume travel to the U.S. Other factors contributing to the recent boost in travel include high jet fuel costs driving up airfare prices and the allure of attending events like the World Cup hosted by Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.
While the recent growth in cross-border travel is encouraging, there is still uncertainty about whether it will significantly benefit American tourism businesses. Smith highlights that the shift towards car travel, rather than air travel, may limit the economic impact on the U.S. tourism industry. Additionally, challenges such as changing travel preferences and a weaker Canadian dollar could pose obstacles to a full recovery in U.S.-bound tourism.
Despite the positive trend in travel numbers over the past few months, industry experts remain cautiously optimistic about the future of cross-border tourism between Canada and the U.S.