For 25 years, Rosalie Cote and her family enjoyed summer vacations in Maine, but this year, they have decided to stay in Canada. Frustrated by Donald Trump’s threats of annexation and tariffs, they, like many Canadians, are rethinking their travel plans to the United States.


Last year, the US was the top travel destination for Canadians, with 20.4 million visits generating approximately $20.5 billion for the American economy and supporting 140,000 jobs. However, this year, that number is expected to decline sharply as Canadians cancel trips in response to negative rhetoric from an "America First" administration.


Cote expressed her feelings, stating, "We don’t want to support the United States. It’s a matter of principle." Romane Gauvreau echoed these sentiments, canceling her planned trips to Vermont and Maine. "We don’t want to go to a place where democracy is in danger, where people suffer great injustices, and where people are being deported," she told AFP.


A recent Abacus Data survey reveals that 56 percent of Canadians have altered or canceled their travel plans to the US. In February alone, bookings to American destinations dropped by 40 percent compared to the previous year, while 20 percent of existing reservations were canceled, according to Flight Centre Canada.


Many Canadians, known as "snowbirds," who typically spend winters in warmer southern US states, are also reconsidering their plans. Andre Laurent, a retired civil servant who has spent part of his winters in Florida for over two decades, has decided to sell his Florida home. "I no longer felt welcomed, and I even felt like I was betraying my country," he said.


In response to the growing discontent, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadians to prioritize local vacationing as a patriotic act. Social media campaigns promoting Canadian destinations like the Rocky Mountains and Prince Edward Island gained traction.


Travel agencies have quickly adapted to the shifting sentiment. Samy Hammadache, director of Nuance du monde, announced their decision to stop promoting trips to the United States, citing the significant impact this boycott may have on the US tourism sector. As Canadian travelers turn their sights toward Europe, the Caribbean, and destinations within Canada, Flair Airlines has responded to decreased demand for flights to the US by increasing services to Mexico and Jamaica.


Tourism professor Michel Archambault anticipates that domestic tourism will reach record levels this year, supported by a Leger survey indicating that six out of ten Canadians plan to vacation within Canada—an unusual trend. Additionally, the recent decline in the Canadian dollar has made traveling to the US less appealing.


Ultimately, for Cote and many others, it’s about standing up for Canada. "We must spend money at home rather than with our neighbors who play dirty tricks on us," she concluded.