Canada Continues to Be a Strong Destination for Both Inbound and Outbound Travel

New data released by Statistics Canada shows that Canada remains a strong destination for international travellers, even as travel patterns among Canadians continue to shift away from the United States.

According to the March 2026 report on international travel, return trips by Canadian residents from the U.S. declined for the 15th consecutive month. Compared to March 2025, air travel back from the United States dropped by 10.8%, while automobile trips declined by 3.3%, resulting in an overall decrease of 6.4%.

The continued slowdown reflects an ongoing trend of reduced Canadian travel to the U.S., even after similar declines were already recorded throughout 2025.

At the same time, Canada experienced growth in inbound travel from American visitors. Trips to Canada by U.S. residents increased by 4.4% compared to March 2025, marking the third consecutive year-over-year increase following a period of declining visitation that began in early 2025.

Travel activity between Canada and overseas markets also showed positive momentum. Return trips by Canadians from destinations outside the United States rose by 3.5% year over year, highlighting continued demand for international travel beyond North America.

International arrivals to Canada from overseas countries also increased by 5.6% during the same period, reinforcing Canada’s position as a popular global travel destination.

Among overseas markets, the largest number of visitors to Canada came from United Kingdom, Mexico, and India. Together, travellers from these three countries accounted for 31.1% of all overseas arrivals into Canada during March 2026.

The latest figures suggest that while Canadians may be adjusting where they travel internationally, Canada itself continues to perform well as a welcoming and attractive destination for visitors from around the world.