A Spike in Canadian Tourists Heading South: Trump's Policies Push Travelers to Mexico
Canadians venture to Mexico due to Trump's policies
A noticeable shift in travel patterns is unfurling as Canadians opt to journey south to Mexico, shunning the United States amid political turmoil and harder border controls caused by Donald Trump's policies. This change of scenery has both airlines and the tourism industry buzzing with renewed interest.
In his recent tariff maneuvers, Trump exempted Mexico. However, Trump's earlier trade policies towards Mexico and Canada inflicted a 25% tariff on goods not covered by the USMCA free trade agreement. This economic stance potentially harms the location while boosting Mexico as a tourist destination.
The appeal of Mexico as a vacation spot grows stronger among Canadians, moving further away from the US due to political reasons. With the number of Canadian travelers increasing sharply, as per a "Financial Times" report, some airlines are establishing new flight routes to Mexico.
Tourism Stats Canada's tourism ministry recently revealed that nearly 15% more Canadians traveled to Mexico in March 2025 compared to the same month in 2024. Meanwhile, Canadian flights to the US decreased by over 13% during the same time frame. Border crossings by car dropped approximately a third, according to Canada's own statistics agency.
Some airlines have even reduced the number of flights from Canada to the US in favor of flights to Mexico. Air Canada and Air Transat have announced new non-stop flights to Guadalajara, with increased connections to other Mexican destinations in the winter.
Trump: "We Show Our Tourists Hospitality and Grace"
Mexico's tourism minister, Rodríguez Zamora, informed the "Financial Times" that the bond between Mexico and Canada has strengthened, showing resemblances to a brotherhood in recent months. The recent numbers suggest that Canadians are leaning towards choosing a country with friendlier politics and opting for Mexico instead of the US.
Patriotic sentiments in Canada have triggered a consumer boycott of American goods and travel since Trump's threats of annexation and new high tariffs. Horror stories of tourists being treated harshly upon entering the US are also hindering Canadian travel. Strangely enough, Mexicans are following suit and avoiding travel to the US as well. The number of Mexican tourists flying to the US in March of this year dropped by almost a quarter compared to 2024, as reported by the US trade ministry.
Tourism Suffers due to Trump Effect: Less Interest in American Holidays A decline of 12% in global visitors was recorded by the trade ministry in March. Trump brushes off these numbers, stating, "No, we treat our tourists well." He disputes that a little nationalism may have played a role in this trend.
Sources
- ntv.de
- jki
Themes
- USA
- Canada
- Mexico
- Tourism Industry
- Airlines
Enrichment
Recent Data on Canadian Tourism to Mexico
- In the first quarter of 2025, Canadian air travel to Mexico surged by 13%, marking a significant increase in Canadian arrivals [4].
- Canadian tourist arrivals in Mexico rose by 15.6% in March 2025 compared to March 2024 [2].
- Airbnb bookings by Canadian tourists in Mexico rose by 27% from March 2024 to March 2025, while Canadian bookings in the US dropped by 12% in the same time frame [2][3].
- Hotel searches by Canadians for Mexican destinations increased by 20% in the three months leading up to March 2025, displaying a decline in interest for the US [2].
- Specific interest in Mexican destinations grew, with hotel searches in Mexico City rising by 49% in April 2025, while beach destinations like Cancún, Sayulita, and Playa del Carmen saw about a 20% increase in interest [2].
Impact of Trump’s Policies and Mexican Tourism Strategy
- Canadian tourists are said to be abandoning traditional American vacation hotspots such as Palm Springs, Orlando, Phoenix, Miami, Florida, New York, and California due to factors like high prices, political tension, and travel Hassles caused by Trump-era tariffs and stricter policies [1].
- The Mexican tourism policy adopted alongside the trade tensions ignited by the Trump tariff war created a favorable environment in Mexico for Canadian tourists, emphasizing value, cultural richness, easy access, and warmer welcomes [1][2].
- This shift is forecasted to be irreversible, generating noticeable consequences for American resort destinations heavily reliant on Canadian visitors [1][2].
Impacts on Airlines
- The increase in Canadian tourist air travel to Mexico (up 13% in Q1 2025) points to growing demand for airlines operating routes between Canada and Mexico [4].
- The escalating interest in Mexican tourist travel from Canada is likely to result in extended flight options, fuller flights, and profitability for airlines operating routes to Mexico.
- On the flip side, American airlines serving routes popular with Canadian travelers may experience reduced demand, as Canadians prefer air travel to Mexican destinations rather than US ones [1][2].
Vocational training programs within Mexico's community might cater to the influx of Canadian tourists seeking alternative vacation destinations due to political and economic reasons. The surge in Canadian travelers has prompted discussions about implementing vocational training for hospitality services to accommodate the growing demand.
In light of the changing travel patterns and the potential tourism boom, local politicians are exploring the possibility of implementing policies to support vocational training in the hospitality sector to prepare the Mexican workforce to serve the increasing number of Canadian tourists.
