A new survey has revealed that many Canadians remain hesitant to travel to the United States, even if diplomatic relations were to improve between the two countries.

Commissioned by FlightHub and conducted by Earnscliffe Omni, the survey was conducted from June 13-15 via the Léger LEO panel, polling 1,529 Canadian adults about their travel sentiments amid ongoing political tensions.

According to the data, 4 in 10 Canadians (40%) said they would avoid travel to the U.S. due to concerns about the political climate and public safety. Additionally, 36% reported they are avoiding U.S. travel as a form of political protest. One in three respondents indicated they do not feel safe or welcome in the U.S.

Even under more favourable conditions – such as a new trade deal reducing tariffs (35%), a stronger Canadian dollar (38%), or significantly improved bilateral relations (37%) – fewer than 4 in 10 Canadians said they would be more inclined to visit the U.S.

Younger Canadians aged 18 to 24 are more responsive to positive shifts, with 47% saying a trade deal would make them more likely to travel south of the border and 48% citing improved diplomatic ties as a motivating factor.

FlightHub also reported a 19% year-over-year decrease in U.S.-bound flight bookings for June 2025 compared to June 2024, highlighting the real-time impact of political sentiment on consumer behaviour.

“The diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and Canada seem to have left a mark on many Canadians, illustrating how symbolic travel can be,” said Ayoub Hissar, Director of Brand Marketing & Communications at FlightHub. “It shows that consumers make travel decisions based not just on safety, which has been a longstanding driver, but also on broader economic and political considerations.

“Travel is much more than leisure; for some, it’s a form of engagement,” he added. “So, it is interesting to observe that improved diplomatic tensions would convince approximately a third of Canadians to reconsider travel to the U.S., while for others, more time and deeper repair might be necessary.”