Canadian domestic travel up in July, while trips to the US decline

Domestic travel in Canada saw a notable increase in July, rising by 3.3 percent compared to the same month last year. This growth occurred as trans-border traffic to the United States experienced a significant downturn.

Statistics Canada data reveals that screen passenger traffic to the U.S. decreased by 8.7 percent in July. This figure was considerably lower than the 12.5 percent recorded in July 2024, indicating a substantial drop in Canadians traveling south.

Conversely, international travel to destinations outside the U.S. showed positive growth, with screened passenger counts increasing by 6.2 percent in July compared to the previous year. This suggests a shift in Canadian travel preferences, with more travelers opting for overseas destinations.

The report also noted declines at some of Canada's major airports, including Vancouver International (-4.5 percent), Montréal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau International (-2.0 percent), and Calgary International (-0.1 percent) in July compared to the previous year.