Canadian travel to the United States remained well below previous levels in 2025 and into early 2026, according to a new Statistics Canada report that attributes the decline to strained U.S.-Canada relations following President Donald Trump's return to office.

The report says Canadians took 7.1 million fewer trips to the U.S. last year, reducing travel spending by about $2.3 billion, as many vacationers opted to travel elsewhere.

"Following the change in the U.S. administration in early 2025 and the implementation of America First policies, Canadian travel sentiment shifted abruptly," the report says.

Statistics Canada found Canadians' return trips from the U.S. declined year over year for 11 consecutive months in 2025 — the longest non-pandemic downturn since digital recordkeeping began in 1972.

Canada has historically been the largest source of international visitors to the United States, making the drop a notable setback for the U.S. tourism industry.

According to the report, Canadians spent $13.3 billion on U.S. travel in 2025, down from $15.7 billion a year earlier. The decline was driven primarily by fewer leisure trips.

Instead, many Canadians redirected their travel dollars elsewhere. Spending on overseas leisure travel climbed to $16.2 billion, up $2.6 billion from 2024, while domestic travel within Canada also increased.

The report found the 7.1 million fewer trips to the U.S. were largely offset by 5 million additional trips within Canada and another 1.3 million trips to overseas destinations.

The decline follows months of trade friction between Washington and Ottawa, including tariffs imposed by the Trump administration and the president's repeated comments that Canada could become the "51st state."

Still, the latest figures suggest the downturn may be moderating. Statistics Canada data revealed travel to the U.S. showed signs of improving between April and June, with the rebound driven largely by vehicle crossings, while air travel remained weaker than a year earlier.

Newsmax reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

The report noted Canada represents just one segment of the international tourism market. Upcoming U.S. tourism data will provide a clearer picture of whether increased visitors from other countries — including those who came to America for the FIFA World Cup — helped offset the decline in Canadian travelers.