Canada Strong: A National Travel Mindset for 2026 and Beyond
Driven by global uncertainty and a weak dollar, Canadians are choosing destinations that are closer to home and international trips where value and comfort feel right.
6min read
Published 12 February 2026
Driven by global uncertainty and a weak dollar, Canadians are choosing destinations that are closer to home and international trips where value and comfort feel right.
Travel to the US declined sharply in 2025 and we don’t know when it will bounce back.
But that doesn’t mean Canadians are cancelling trips altogether. Rather, they’re making more intentional decisions about where to go — favouring destinations that feel predictable, welcoming and worth the spend.
The shift began in 2025, which saw a record-breaking summer for domestic tourism: $59 billion in revenue with $44.4 billion driven by Canadian travellers1. At the same time, outbound travel to the United States saw year-over-year declines for 12 straight months; cross-boarder trips dropped 28%2, contributing to an estimated $4 billion loss3.
Together, these patterns point to a longer-term “Canada Strong” mindset — one that’s not about spending less, but about choosing where travel dollars feel best spent.
All in on Canada
Support for local destinations and businesses shows no signs of fading. More than four in 10 Canadians (42%) say “Canada Strong” will define their travel mindset in 2026 — signalling a clear intent to explore closer to home.
The sentiment resonates most with baby boomers, nearly half of whom (48%) identify with “Canada Strong.” Gen Z, however, takes a more global view: just 30% align with the mindset, instead prioritizing a favourable exchange rate (36%) and unrestricted mobility (34%).
Regionally, Atlantic Canada (48%) and Alberta (46%) lead the country in domestic-first travel intentions, while Ontario (40%) and British Columbia (35%) trail behind.
For many travellers, choosing Canada is less about affordability and more about confidence — familiarity with destinations, predictability in planning and a desire to keep travel spending within the local economy.
Key travel mindsets:
- Canada Strong: I’ll focus on exploring home first and supporting Canadian destinations (42%).
- Loonie Loyalist: I’ll travel internationally but favour places where the Canadian dollar goes further (31%).
- World Citizen: I’ll go wherever I want, regardless of cost or exchange rate (28%).
Meet 2026’s travel gatekeeper: The loonie
While the decision to avoid US travel is increasingly shaped by comfort and sentiment, the strength of the Canadian dollar is also playing a decisive role in shaping where Canadians travel internationally.
Although 20% of Canadians say they are willing to pay more to travel within Canada’s borders to support local jobs, affordability remains a key factor overall. Nearly six in 10 Canadians (58%) say cost will determine where they travel in 2026, with Gen X (68%) and millennials (63%) feeling the squeeze most amid competing financial responsibilities.
That means Canadians must be strategic and flexible, choosing destinations — in Canada or overseas — that deliver more value for their money. Accordingly, 65% say the strength of the loonie directly shapes when they book and where they go, while just 10% say exchange rates don’t affect their decisions.
Other top factors impacting travel choices include political climate (40%), safety concerns due to global tensions (37%), and travel disruptions like natural disasters and airline strikes (29%).
“Canadians still really want to travel — that hasn’t changed. What has changed is how careful people are being with where they invest their tourism dollars. Instead of pulling back, they’re adjusting: looking for destinations that align with their values, booking earlier and travelling in the shoulder season. It’s a practical shift that lets Canadians keep travelling without sacrificing the experiences that matter.”
—Anita Emilio, Executive Vice President, Flight Centre Canada
Anywhere but there…
A trip to New York, Orlando or Las Vegas is no longer the default choice for many Canadians. For US travel, the decision has become increasingly emotional rather than financial, shaped by comfort levels, perceived welcome and broader political considerations.
For 2026, more than six in 10 (62%) of Canadians say they are less likely to visit US destinations than last year. That number rises to 76% for baby boomers. Meanwhile, three in 10 (30%) Canadians say their desire to visit remains the same as last year, while only 8% say it’s increased.
When asked to identify the main factors influencing US travel decisions, Canadians cited the political or cultural climate (57%), border hassles or travel restrictions (53%), safety or security concerns (46%), exchange rates and overall costs (44%), and visiting friends and family (22%).
“Canadians have always been the biggest international visitors to the US, and in a typical year they spend billions there. What changed was leisure travel — we saw it drop sharply, even as business travel held steady. That shift is carrying into 2026, with more Canadians choosing to support local destinations or travel to places where they feel more welcome.”
—Chris Lynes, Managing Director, Flight Centre Travel Group
Concerns about political and cultural climate were particularly pronounced among baby boomers, with 70% identifying it as a key factor.
Canadians’ top 2026 travel pick? Home
Despite a world of options, 37% of Canadians placed trips within Canada at the top of their wishlists for 2026 over hot spots in Mexico, Europe and Asia. Why? A desire to support the local economy and a growing appreciation for the breadth and beauty of home.
Atlantic Canada was the leading Canadian choice (16%) followed by British Columbia (12%). Another 8% of travellers are eyeing other destinations within the country.
Generationally, baby boomers are most likely (45%) to prioritize domestic travel this year, while Gen Z are least likely (25%).
Travel Expert lens: What Canadians are booking at home
- Banff and Lake Louise remain top choices, particularly in August, supported by incentives like free national park access and discounted VIA Rail travel.
- Atlantic Canada continues to perform strongly, with Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island drawing interest.
- Destinations in the northern territories, including Whitehorse and Yellowknife, are increasingly being chosen over Alaska for northern lights and winter experiences.
Shorter, family-friendly trips to Montréal and Edmonton also remain popular.
“We’re seeing more Canadians commit to immersive trips at home — especially multi-stop journeys through Atlantic Canada. Clients are treating Canada the way they once treated Europe, building longer, more thoughtful itineraries and taking the time to really explore our own backyard.”
—Jaime Murcheson, Travel Expert and Assistant Location Manager, Flight Centre Direct West
Europe takes second place
One in four Canadians (25%) slotted Europe into their number-one travel spot, making it the second most desirable location for 2026. For Gen Z, the history, cuisine and cultural diversity of the European continent are even more attractive, with 37% hoping for a visit in the coming year.
This reflects typical seasonal travel patterns, with Canadians favouring destinations like Mexico and the Caribbean during the winter months and turning to Europe and domestic travel as spring and summer planning begins.
“Internationally, value looks very different by region. In Europe, currency conditions are mixed — while the euro strengthened in 2025, currencies like the British pound and Danish krone have remained relatively stable, giving travellers more predictability. In many parts of Asia, such as Japan and South Korea, Canadians are benefitting from more favourable exchange rates combined with lower day-to-day costs, which is helping travel budgets go further.”
—Dave Ardagh, Finance Leader, Flight Centre Canada
After Canada and Europe, Mexico and Asia tied for third place at 9% each. Next came the US, with 8% of Canadians excited to visit. Central or South America came in at 3%, Australia or New Zealand at 2%, and Africa at 2%. Other destinations accounted for 5% of Canadians.
Flight Centre customers know that booking flights and hotels at least four months in advance secures the best deals, so they’ve already started planning their European summer vacations. The strongest booking growth this season is being seen in Ireland, France, the UK, Italy and Portugal, based on total transaction value. Interest is also rising in alternative European destinations, including Wales, Croatia, the Azores, Italy’s Sardegna and Umbria regions, and Albania, aided by new flight connectivity.
A changing travel landscape
For 86% of Canadians, travel feels different this year. Nearly half of Canadians (44%) say travel now feels like a bigger financial decision, 42% are more focused on value for money and one in three (33%) say it demands more planning and research than in the past.
At the same time, travel’s importance has not diminished. Nearly one third of Canadians (29%) say travel feels more essential to their wellbeing in 2026, while 23% find it more emotionally rewarding. Among Gen Z, those figures rise to 39% and 37%, respectively.
These shifts reflect a lasting change in how Canadians approach travel. Instead of asking where they want to travel, they’re increasingly weighing ease, confidence and value when deciding where their travel dollars go.
As a result, they’ll continue to redirect spending away from destinations where uncertainty is a concern, choosing to explore closer to home and selecting international experiences that feel worth the investment.
That’s “Canada Strong.”
Methodology
The report is based on research conducted by YouGov. The total sample size was 1,064 Canadian adults aged 18 and over (excluding Québec residents) who intend to travel for leisure in 2026. Fieldwork was undertaken between November 7 and 11, 2025. The survey was conducted online and commissioned by Flight Centre Canada. Results have been weighted to be representative of Canadian adults.
Sources
1Destination Canada, “Canadian Tourism Delivers Almost $60B This Summer, Driving National Wealth and Unprecedented Dispersion Across the Country,” destinationcanada.com, 2025.
2Government of Canada, “Leading indicator of international arrivals to Canada, December 2025,” www150.statcan.gc.ca, January 2026.
3Lynn Brown, “Where are all the Canadians going?” bbc.com, 2025.
Contact
For hi-res images, b-roll or media enquiries, please contact: media@flightcentre.ca