Source: CBC News

Visits by Canadians have cratered by 42% over the last year, cellphone data reveals.

The boycott by Canadians of travel to the U.S., driven largely by an aversion to President Donald Trump, his industry-wrecking tariffs and 51st state taunts, has actually been more effective than previously thought, according to new data.

While official Statistics Canada figures show a roughly 25 per cent decline in Canadian residents returning from the U.S. last year, cellphone data compiled by researchers at the University of Toronto’s School of Cities found that the year-over-year drop in cross-border trips was closer to 42 per cent.

The researchers analyzed data from Canadian mobile devices travelling to U.S. metro areas between April 1, 2025 — the day Trump famously dubbed “liberation day” as he imposed global tariffs — and March 31, 2026.

Source: Global News

Canadians made slightly more return trips from the U.S. in April, according to the latest data, after more than a year of declines.

Statistics Canada reported Monday that in April 2026 there were 3.2 million return trips by Canadian residents from international destinations including the U.S., which marked a three per cent increase from the same month a year earlier.

Nearly half of that amount (1.4 per cent) were return trips from the U.S., which the agency adds was the first increase of its kind since December 2024.

Source: Travel Weekly

With cross-border travel from Canada continuing to lag, Brand USA is working on a targeted marketing campaign to help turn the tide.
Brand USA, a public-private tourism-marketing organization, says its current “America the Beautiful” campaign is not a fit for Canada and was not included among the 10 countries targeted.

To determine the type of messaging that will work, the organization has been doing quantitative market surveys. A round of focus group in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver are planned for next month.

Source: CTV News

A new tourism project aimed at simplifying travel planning while boosting the economy in southern Alberta has launched.

The Highway 3 Alberta Tourism Corridor Development Project is benefiting and bringing together communities and organizations from Medicine Hat to the Crowsnest Pass through tourism.

The initiative will focus on developing a unified Highway 3 tourism brand, launching a centralized website and creating curated three-, five- and seven-day itineraries designed to encourage longer stays and increased visitor spending.

Led by the Taber Community Improvement Society, in partnership with Tourism Lethbridge, Tourism Medicine Hat, South Canadian Rockies Tourism, Waterton Lakes National Park and the Town of Taber, the project focuses on growing collaboration between each destination to compete in a more global and experience-driven travel market.

Source: OpenJaw

Canada’s Liberal Government is quietly moving towards designating more workers, including pilots, flight attendants and ground crew, as “essential,” which could prevent some professions from taking legal strike action during labour negotiations.

Ottawa issued a discussion paper in mid-April, outlining changes that would give Ottawa the power to end strikes and lockouts, as well as mandate collective bargaining timelines.

Source: CTV News

CTV News’ investigative unit W5 has found at least 17 innocent passengers on flights originating in Canada were detained on drug smuggling allegations over the past year after their baggage tags were switched onto suitcases filled with drugs.
All were eventually released, but only after some had been handcuffed, arrested and jailed overseas.
W5 compiled the data through court records, news releases and police sources. The cases involved flights from Canada to the Dominican Republic, Paris, Germany, Morocco, Bermuda, the Philippines and Korea, where drug smuggling can carry the death penalty.

Source: Travel Industry Today

Caribbean tourism is entering a new strategic phase, one defined less by rapid post-pandemic recovery and more by the need to diversify demand, capture higher-value travellers, and unlock growth beyond traditional peak periods.
Based on analysis from the 2026 Caribbean Travel Trends Report, which documented steady demand for the Caribbean, growing 1% year over year (despite a clear moderation from the 21% and 8% gains recorded in the two prior years), Caribbean tourism executives said the region was ready for its “next chapter.”

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