- Due to the ongoing trade tensions, Canadians are choosing international destinations more than U.S.-bound trips.
- Canadians are spending more money on travel to Buenos Aires and Osaka.
Recently, Canadians have re-evaluated their vacation plans and are now choosing international destinations over the United States. This is due to the continuing trade tensions between Canada and the US.
Kelly Bergquist, an Edmonton resident who used to visit the U.S. every year, now considers destinations such as Mexico and the Balkans. Her sentiment is a reflection of a larger trend among Canadians looking for alternatives to U.S.-based travel. Flight Centre Canada’s data indicates a rise in Canadians traveling to other countries, including Argentina, Japan, Denmark and Buenos Aires, where spending has increased by 148%.
This trend is being noticed by tourism organizations around the world. In the first half year of this year, Japan reported an increase of 23% in Canadian tourists. Portugal and Brazil saw similar increases.
Andrew Stafford of Flight Centre in Vancouver has noted that Canadians consolidate shorter U.S. holidays into longer vacations abroad. The Marival Group has noticed a 5-6% growth in Canadian guests in Mexico. Targeted marketing campaigns have been launched to encourage more Canadian travelers.
Joan Allison, from Windsor, Ontario is one of those who chooses Portugal as a destination over the U.S., citing economic and political concerns. Wayne Smith of Toronto Metropolitan University argues that Canadians want to travel to places where they feel welcomed and safe. This may indicate a possible long-term decline for Canadians traveling to the U.S.
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