Over one million Canadians visited New York last year, injecting hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy. Now, they're canceling their travel plans in unprecedented numbers.
School groups have scrapped end-of-semester excursions to the Big Apple, and busloads of retirees have abandoned their tours. Young couples have rerouted honeymoon plans, friend groups have canceled birthday celebrations, and families from Quebec who planned multiple visits this year are staying home.
The catalyst for this travel boycott, according to those canceling, is President Donald Trump's increasingly hostile stance toward Canada – specifically his implementation of tariffs on Canadian goods and repeated threats to annex Canada as the 51st US state. These actions have prompted Canadians to boycott American products and reconsider vacations across the border.
In 2024, Canadian visitors contributed approximately $600 million to New York's economy. The current wave of cancellations threatens significant economic damage not just to New York City but throughout the state. Border communities that depend on regular Canadian shoppers making day trips are particularly vulnerable. According to the most recent state data available, nearly four million Canadians visited New York state in 2023, spending over $1.7 billion.
"When you anger a country and threaten to annex it, they won't want to travel here," Matt Levy, who owns a New York tour company now facing a projected 50% drop in Canadian business this year, explained. More than a dozen Canadian high schools have recently notified him they're canceling their annual New York trips.
An Ottawa-based tour operator had anticipated sending 16 buses of tourists to New York this year. However, since Trump imposed tariffs on Canada this month, bookings have completely dried up. The company's primarily retired clientele – who typically spend generously on dining, shopping, and Broadway shows – are not making reservations, forcing the operator to consider canceling all planned tours.
"We love the American people, but we are so anti-American when it comes to money," Cindy Tobin, a manager at the tour company, said. She reports her customers have explicitly stated: "We simply won't give them any money."
Data confirms the downturn. Compared to the same period in 2024, the number of Canadians flying into New York's three major airports declined by 11% last month, according to federal government airline passenger statistics. The total international passenger count for the region hit its lowest point since February 2023.
Ground transportation shows similar trends. Vehicle traffic on the four international bridges spanning the Niagara River near Buffalo and Niagara Falls dropped nearly 14% in February compared to last year, according to operating agencies. Further east, the Thousand Islands Bridge recorded a 19% decrease in February crossings. Flight Centre Travel Group Canada reported a 40% reduction in US leisure travel bookings during February compared to last year, alongside increased cancellations of previously scheduled trips.
Ben Renaud from Quebec exemplifies this trend. His family had planned two New York trips this year – one this month to celebrate his mother's birthday and another summer visit with extended family. Both have now been postponed. "I have many pleasant memories in New York and wanted to share that with her," the 45-year-old, who is now considering alternative vacations to other Canadian provinces or possibly Europe, said. He added, "The word in the country is that the US cannot be treated as an ally and cannot be trusted."
