Despite being located just a short distance from the Canada-U.S. border, many Canadians appear uninterested in heading south, with a growing trend of reduced cross-border trips. A recent poll by Vancouver is Awesome found that nearly 79% of readers said there’s no chance they’ll be traveling to the U.S. this summer, while another 12% said they were unlikely to make the trip.
This significant decline in interest in U.S. travel reflects broader trends of reduced trips, with more than 90% of readers showing little to no interest in crossing the border during the peak summer travel season, traditionally a busy time for trips between Metro Vancouver and the American Pacific Northwest.
Historically, the U.S. was a popular destination for Metro Vancouver residents, with people crossing for events like Blue Jays baseball games in Seattle, shopping, and trips to the Olympic Mountains. However, the recent drop in cross-border travel is evident, with some events like upcoming Mariners vs. Blue Jays games facing thousands of unsold tickets.
Statistics Canada reports that automobile trips across the country were down by 32% in March, and in B.C., the decline is even steeper, with a 41% decrease year-over-year. Rising costs and shifting travel priorities seem to be contributing to the trend, as fewer Canadians are opting to travel to the U.S.
