Canadians are increasingly opting to avoid flying to the United States, as revealed in a recent report from Statistics Canada. Passenger traffic across the southern border decreased for the ninth consecutive month in October 2023. This trend highlights a significant shift in travel preferences among Canadians, particularly those flying out of major airports like Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
In October, more than 5 million people travelled through Canada’s eight largest airports, marking a year-over-year increase of 4.5 percent. YVR alone recorded over 900,000 passengers, a rise of nearly 6.6 percent compared to the same month last year. Despite this overall growth, the proportion of travellers heading to the U.S. dropped to 24.4 percent of total airport traffic, down from 28 percent in October 2022.
Travel trends indicate that Canadians are increasingly choosing domestic destinations. In the same month, travel to other cities within Canada rose by 8.5 percent. This preference for local travel suggests a shift in attitudes and priorities among Canadian travellers, particularly as international travel becomes more complex.
The data also reflects a growing interest in Canada from American travellers, with arrivals by air increasing by 1.3 percent year-over-year. This contrast adds another layer to the evolving travel landscape between the two countries.
On the ground, a separate report from the Whatcom Council of Governments in Washington state noted a 37 percent decline in the number of British Columbia licence plates crossing the border by land in October. This decline has been evident since February 2023, coinciding with heightened political tensions following the inauguration of former President Donald Trump. Trump’s comments regarding Canada, including references to the country as the “51st state,” may have contributed to the growing reluctance among Canadians to travel south.
As the travel landscape continues to evolve, these statistics provide insight into the changing dynamics of cross-border travel. With Canadians favouring domestic trips and Americans showing interest in visiting Canada, the coming months may reveal further developments in travel patterns between the two nations.
