Canada’s tourism and travel numbers for May 2025 have revealed some interesting shifts, both in terms of who is arriving and who is leaving. According to the latest data, travel to Canada by U.S. and overseas residents has continued its downward trend, while Canadian residents are also traveling abroad less frequently. These numbers reflect not only the current economic climate but also evolving travel preferences. If you’re keeping an eye on Canada’s immigration and tourism patterns, this update provides valuable insights.
Let’s take a closer look at what the numbers say and what they might mean for the coming months.
U.S. Residents Travelling to Canada: Slight Dip in Numbers
In May 2025, Canada welcomed 2.0 million visitors from the U.S., which was a 5.6% decline compared to May 2024. This marks the fourth month in a row where U.S.-resident travel to Canada has dropped year-over-year.
Here’s a breakdown of how they arrived:
- By automobile: 1.2 million (−7.0% YoY)
- Over half (51.6%) were same-day trips.
- By air: 470,100 (−1.7% YoY)
- By cruise ship: 196,800 (+0.4% YoY)
Interestingly, while most categories saw a decline, cruise ship arrivals saw a very modest increase, indicating that cruise tourism may be bouncing back slightly.
Overseas Visitors to Canada: Eighth Month of Consecutive Decline
Canada saw 575,100 overseas arrivals in May, a 6.6% decrease from the same time last year. This marks the eighth straight month of year-over-year decline.
Top source countries for these visitors:
- United Kingdom: 78,400
- India: 61,300
- France: 48,600
- Together, these countries made up 32.7% of all overseas visitors.
Biggest regional drops:
- Europe: −4.1%
- Asia: −11.3%
- The drop from Asia contributed significantly to the overall dip in overseas arrivals.
Canadians Travelling Abroad: Big Drop in U.S. Travel
Canadian residents made 3.4 million trips abroad in May 2025, representing a 22.5% year-over-year decrease.
Here’s how the travel split:
- By air: 53.1% of trips (−3.1% YoY)
- To the U.S. by air: −17.4%
- To the U.S. by automobile: −37.4% (1.5 million trips, with 63.9% being same-day)
However, one bright spot was that air travel to overseas countries by Canadians increased by 9.3%, suggesting more interest in longer international trips.
Seasonally Adjusted Trends: A Slight Monthly Recovery
While the year-over-year numbers show a drop, the seasonally adjusted monthly data paints a slightly more optimistic picture.
- U.S. resident visits to Canada: +2.1% from April
- By air: +2.5%
- By automobile: +2.7%
- Overseas resident visits: +2.0%
- Big gains from Oceania (+11.5%) and Asia (+2.8%)
Meanwhile, Canadian-resident trips abroad were down 3.1% compared to April, marking the fifth straight monthly decline.
Travel Between Canada and the U.S. in Focus
Here’s how the Canada–U.S. travel relationship looked in May:
| Metric | Number | YoY Change |
| U.S. residents visiting Canada | 2.0 million | −5.6% |
| Canadian residents returning from the U.S. | 2.3 million | −31.9% |
| Share of total international trips | 67.7% | — |
This shift may be tied to exchange rates, economic factors, or a general decline in cross-border tourism.
What These Travel Trends Mean for Immigration and Tourism
The consistent dip in both inbound and outbound travel highlights a transitional phase in Canada’s international mobility landscape. Whether due to economic reasons, evolving tourism patterns, or broader global conditions, May 2025 proved to be another month of slowdown in Canada’s travel scene.
For immigration consultants, policymakers, and international travelers, these shifts are critical to watch. Canada travel trends May 2025 offer not just numbers but clues into how people are moving—and where the next surge in travel may come from. If you’re planning to visit or move to Canada, understanding these trends can give you a strategic edge. Stay connected with ImmigCanada for more updates like this.
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