Here’s where Canadians are travelling this summer

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Industry experts are predicting a robust Canada-first summer travel season. 

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Amid geopolitical tensions, the war in the Middle East, and a significant number of Canadians still skipping United States travel, it looks like there’s no place like home for vacation-seeking Canucks. 

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A recent YouGov survey done for Flight Centre Travel Group Canada showed 37 per cent of those polled were prioritizing domestic travel this year. 

The World Cup is a big domestic summer tourism driver as host cities Toronto and Vancouver welcome some 350,000 fans each. 

The event is “an unprecedented opportunity,” Destination BC says, showcasing Vancouver for one of the globe’s most-watched sporting events. Destination BC hopes to entice soccer fans to see places outside the city with programs like Same Day Game Day, which has itineraries for regional one-day trips to and from BC Place stadium. 

Destination BC says early indicators point to strong interest in summer travel across the province. Hotel occupancy is tracking ahead of last year and airline bookings are also up, with increases seen from Canada, China, Japan, Mexico, South Korea and the United Kingdom. 

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“Canada is having a global moment. Our brand reputation has never been stronger,” said Marsha Walden, Destination Canada president and CEO in a statement.

Programs like the Canada Strong Pass, which saves visitors money with free admissions and discounts, also makes travel here more attractive, Destination BC said. 

What are travellers searching for?

Numbers from travel search engine KAYAK reveal Canadians have travel on their minds, with summer trip searches up eight per cent over last year.

Canadian searches for Willemstad, Curaçao are up 55 per cent from a year ago. Nassau, Bahamas is up 48 per cent since last spring and Hanoi, Vietnam is up 38 per cent from the same period.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. topped KAYAK’s list of popular search destinations, despite continuing political tensions between Canada and the U.S. Tokyo was second and Orlando, Fla. third. The data shows Canadians are also looking into summer travel to Paris, London and Lisbon, as well as Vancouver and Toronto.

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Booking early is a smart plan no matter where you’re headed this summer, said Amra Durakovic, head of communications for Flight Centre Travel Group Canada. 

“It’s really the time to book for summer vacation and that’s true even without global tensions,” she said. Prices go up as travel dates approach and availability can be tricky. 

Also, as the war in Iran threatens oil supplies, fluctuating prices could mean pricier airline tickets. Fuel is one the largest operational costs for airlines, Durakovic said. Rerouting flight paths to avoid conflict zones can also add costs. 

What Canadian destinations are stealing the spotlight?

A November YouGov survey for Flight Centre showed of the 1,000 Canadians polled about summer travel plans, 62 per cent said they were “less likely” to travel south of the border. 

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According to Statistics Canada, return car trips from the U.S. by Canadian residents fell 12.9 per cent in February 2026 and 17.6 per cent by air on a year-over-year basis. 

Cyndi Paddock, senior travel consultant with Marlin Travel Victoria, said popular U.S. destinations are getting the cold shoulder. Her bookings are down for Las Vegas, California and Disney-themed travel. Alaska cruises are still popular with Canadians, though. Paddock believes the fact ships sail from Vancouver may be helping. 

“Our own booking data shows our share of domestic bookings have been growing month over month,” Durakovic said, adding it appears Canadian travel is benefiting from the slump in cross-border travel. 

Paddock says her clients are looking at Canadian destinations that offer unique experiences, including Churchill, Man. for polar bear watching and Yellowknife, N.W.T. for the partial solar eclipse Aug. 12.

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“The Maritimes are up as well,” she added.

New Brunswick adventure tourism business owner Jordan Jamison of Bay of Fundy Adventures said he’s seeing a significant uptick in bookings for summer. 

“We’re nestled between Maine, Que. and Nova Scotia but we’re still Canada’s best-kept secret,” said Jamison, whose company takes kayakers around the Bay of Fundy, home of the highest tides on Earth. Paddlers depart twice daily from St. Martins, about 50 km east of Saint John. 

That under-the-radar status may be changing for New Brunswick. Jamison has seen bookings up to double since 2024 for his company’s Kayak the Bay of Fundy Sea Caves Tour, primarily among Canadian visitors. U.S. visitors were up 42 per cent, Jamison said. 

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“People are still discovering our province,” he said, pointing to the “gorgeous” southern coast and multiple dark sky preserves as tourist draws. 

How Canadian travellers are making swaps

Retired political reporter Richard Brennan of Dundas, Ont. and his wife Vickie cancelled a planned trip to Naples, Fla. last year. They banked the airline travel credit for a trip to St. John’s in Newfoundland and Labrador in May. 

“I have been there while covering federal elections but never got to really enjoy it,” said Brennan. 

Jacqueline Walters of Toronto has a passion for road trips on Blu, her beloved 2021 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Revival touring bike. She planned to ride across Canada and head down the Oregon coast to the Grand Canyon and perhaps Texas for her summer “grand retirement tour.” Instead, she’ll take shorter trips, riding and camping in Ontario. 

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“Just because of that geopolitical situation. I just don’t feel safe doing it and I don’t feel it’s the right time,” she said of the U.S. trip. 

Walters is an experienced traveller. As an international referee with the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations for 16 years, she’s been all over the globe officiating matches. 

Geopolitics also affected Walters’ spring travel plans. She was looking at Latin or South America for a beach holiday, but recent situations in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and Venezuela made her choose Thailand for a three-week vacation in April instead.

“The flight to Thailand is expensive, but once you get there, it’s a very economical place to be,” she said. 

Flight Centre’s Durakovic agrees. For the same reason, she said Japan has become “a huge destination” for Canadians, especially for the value for travellers once they land. 

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Paddock said she’s getting inquiries about Japan from clients who say they want a safe place to travel since Japan ranks as one of the world’s safest countries. 

Meanwhile, Paddock is booking clients on summer trips to Italy, Norway, Iceland, Greece and Portugal. European river cruises are very popular, too. 

Travellers are also interested in astrotourism. She booked one family on a trip to Spain for the total solar eclipse in August. Norway cruises are advertising itineraries that include the partial solar eclipse, she said. 

No matter where Canadians head to this summer, as travel becomes increasingly unpredictable, Paddock recommends getting cancel for any reason (CFAR) travel insurance in addition to trip interruption and cancellation coverage. CFAR covers cancellation beyond the reasons policies typically cover like illness, injury or a family medical emergency.

CFAR covers a portion of prepaid, non-refundable expenses if a traveller decides to pull the plug on a trip whether it’s due to travel fears or an issue at home. 

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