Trois-Rivières, Quebec – November 6, 2025 – A noticeable decline in student travel to the United states is emerging as Quebec schools increasingly opt for closer-to-home destinations, a trend impacting travel agencies and raising questions about budgetary influences on extracurricular activities.
The shift comes as agencies report decreased bookings for U.S.-bound school trips. Alexis Biron,head of an unnamed travel agency,anticipates a return to previous levels,but not before 2026. “Mais dès que ça va arriver,je vous le dis,ça va revenir comme avant… mais ce ne sera probablement pas pour cette année,” Biron stated. His agency experienced a drop in package sales, moving from 220 in 2024 to 160 in 2025.
While ClasseTrotteur hasn’t seen a decrease in overall package sales, Stéphan Mathieu notes a reduction in group sizes. Mathieu suggests economic factors and destination appeal are at play. “On peut blâmer le climat économique, mais on peut aussi présumer qu’un voyage à Trois-Rivières est moins attractif qu’un voyage scolaire à New York,” he explained.
The timing of this trend coincides with recent budgetary uncertainty within the Quebec education system, possibly disrupting the planning process for school trips. However, the Ministry of Education confirms it has issued no specific directives to schools regarding destination choices for student travel.
