A surge in Canadian tourists choosing European destinations over the United States is being attributed to a combination of political factors and perceived unwelcoming policies, according to travel agencies and industry data. The shift comes as overall foreign travel to the US has declined, with a particularly sharp drop in visitors from Canada.
Figures released by the US Commerce Department’s National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) show a 5.4 percent decrease in total foreign travel to the United States through November 2025. This downturn was largely driven by a 22 percent reduction in Canadian visitors, equating to a loss of four million travelers compared to the previous year.
Christine Fiorelli, owner of Canadian travel agency Fairytale Dreams & Destinations, reported a 30 percent increase in clients opting for alternatives to US Disney vacations, with Disneyland Paris becoming a popular choice. “Many travellers are still eager for that magical Disney experience but prefer to avoid supporting US-based parks at this time,” Fiorelli said. “It still holds a place in their heart, but not now.”
The trend is impacting Disney’s financial outlook. Walt Disney CFO Hugh Johnston recently stated during an earnings call that the company has “less visibility into international bookings for the second quarter” and is adjusting its marketing strategies to focus on domestic travelers. Disney declined to provide further comment.
Canadians are citing a range of concerns, including ongoing trade disputes with the US, former President Trump’s proposal to acquire Greenland, and stricter immigration enforcement. Catherine Norris, a Toronto-area resident who has visited Disney World annually since 2008, explained, “We’re huge Disney lovers, but given the current political climate, we’re not traveling to anywhere in the US. It will probably be at least five to 10 years before we will travel to the US again.” Norris and her husband have instead booked a Disney vacation in Europe and back-to-back Disney cruises departing from Singapore.
While Canada was the leading source of visitors to Orlando, home of Walt Disney World, with a record 1.2 million in 2024, Visit Orlando has not yet released figures for 2025.
The White House defended its policies, with Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly asserting, “President Trump has done more for American tourism than anyone. His America First agenda has restored our country’s place as the leader of the free world once again – making it the best place to live or visit.”
But, the World Travel and Tourism Council projects a 6 percent decline in foreign visitors to the United States in 2025, even as global tourism experiences a 6.7 percent increase. The impact extends beyond theme parks, affecting US national parks as well.
Australia-based Intrepid Travel, which offers over 300 US national park tours, has seen bookings fall by 42 percent for 2026, with Canadian bookings plummeting 93 percent. UK-based luxury travel agency Cazenove+Loyd has paused plans for itineraries focused on parks in states like Montana, Washington, and California. “It might not be quite the time to launch something that is dedicated to the States,” said co-owner Christopher Wilmot-Sitwell.
Financial results from hotel operator Hilton Worldwide indicate a decline in per-room revenue and occupancy rates in the United States during 2025, despite growth in other regions. Marriott International CEO reportedly told a conference in January that the company was lobbying government officials to adopt more welcoming policies towards international visitors, according to a report by CoStar, a hotel analytics firm.
Flight analytics data from Cirium shows bookings from Europe to the US were down 14 percent year-over-year between October 7 and January 31, while Canadian bookings fell 17 percent during the same period. The recent White House proposal requiring millions of travelers to submit social media data has further fueled uncertainty, according to travel agents.
Erik Hansen, head of government relations for the US Travel Association, cautioned that the administration’s immigration enforcement efforts have created a perception of increased difficulty in traveling to the United States. “When you look at the data, the number of phone searches by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the number of denied entries has not gone up compared to previous administrations,” he said.
