Sixty-one percent of Canadians are planning to travel this year, and nearly a third of them will still consider a trip to the States, according to a new travel sentiment survey by the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada (THIA). But that also means a majority (70%) are unlikely to travel south of the border, not surprisingly citing the current political environment as the primary reason.
According to the association’s ‘2025 Smart Traveller Survey,’ which polled 1,539 randomly selected Canadian adults on March 29-30, revealed the top reasons Canadians are avoiding travel to the U.S. this year include:
- To support Canada during the tariff dispute (57%)
- Because of the political leadership (51%)
- Because the Canadian dollar is too weak (34%)
“We’re seeing more Canadians consider their political views and economic conditions when planning travel,” says Will McAleer, THIA spokesperson. “While Canadians may be taking fewer trips to the U.S., they’re fortunately still planning to travel.”
The survey also revealed that 50% of Canadians consider unexpected travel expenses (cancellations, medical emergencies) among their biggest financial concerns when planning a vacation. Regardless, 23% of Canadians said they would travel abroad without travel health insurance as a way to save money. That number doubles (47%) for Gen Z respondents, Canadians aged 18-28.
“Exploring new activities and embracing a carefree mindset is part of the adventure of travelling, especially for young people,” notes McAleer. “However, being in an unfamiliar place – sometimes with a language barrier – can increase risks and make Canadians of all ages more vulnerable to potential injuries and illnesses. In many instances, these medical emergencies come at a shockingly high cost. This is why travel health insurance is a must-have for all travellers both young and old, especially when financial concerns are top of mind.”
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