Gen Z Canadians are not boycotting U.S. travel, except for these two reasons: poll
A new survey has found that 45 per cent of Gen Z Canadians (born between 1997 and 2012) say they’re likely to travel to the U.S. next year, compared to just 8 per cent of Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964).
Among Canadians who are travelling this year, nearly two‑thirds (61 per cent) of Gen Z respondents said the U.S. is on their itinerary, compared to 48 per cent of Millennials (born 1981-1996), 28 per cent of Gen X (1965-1980), and 14 per cent of Boomers.
The 2026 Smart Traveller Survey, which was conducted in March by Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada (THIA), also found that 36 per cent of Canadians are choosing domestic destinations over international travel, while Europe has overtaken the U.S. as the top international destination, attracting 26 per cent of respondents.
Among Boomers, 51 per cent cited political tensions between the U.S. and Canada as the biggest deterrant to cross-border travel, while Gen Z’s primary obstacle was cost (36 per cent), followed by a lack of paid time off (22 per cent).
This trend is echoed by recent data from flight comparison site Skyscanner , which found that 56 per cent of Gen Z Canadians made financial sacrifices to afford their most recent vacation. Two thirds(66 per cent) said skipping meals out was worth it if it brought them closer to their next trip, while half (50 per cent) were willing to cut back on buying new clothes.
That frugality extends to spending habits while travelling, with 48 per cent willing to book cheaper activities to stretch their budget further.
THIA spokesperson Will McAleer said: “We’re seeing a clear generational split among Canadians as they consider both their political views and economic conditions when planning travel. Despite ongoing political tensions, younger Canadians still show strong interest in travel to the U.S., instead citing rising costs as their biggest barrier to travel. Meanwhile, older travellers continue to be deterred by cross-border political uncertainty.”
Political tensions between Canada and the U.S. have escalated following punishing tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump and his suggestion that Canada could become the 51st state . Meanwhile, heightened security at the border has discouraged many Canadians from travelling south.
The THIA findings also align with recent data from Statistics Canada , which found that cross-border travel from Canada to the U.S. declined for the 14th consecutive month in March 2026.
Passenger numbers to the U.S. at Canada’s eight largest airports fell 7 per cent from March 2025 to the same month this year, extending a downturn which began in January 2025.
Canadian airlines have responded by reducing capacity, with Air Transat cancelling all U.S.-bound flights for the 2026 summer season and WestJet suspending 16 U.S. routes.
Meanwhile, StatCan data found that domestic passenger traffic at Canadian airports rose sharply this year, up 10 per cent from March 2025.
The strongest gains in March 2026 were recorded ar Halifax/Robert L. Stanfield International (+15 per cent), Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International (+14.1 per cent), and Calgary International (+11.3 per cent), reinforcing THIA’s findings that more Canadians are opting for domestic travel over trips to the U.S.
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.