IAN STALKER
Trade squabbles with the United States are apparently leading more Canadians to vacation in their home and native land.
Several travel agents in Ontario – the country’s most populous province – say repeated calls this year for Canadians to stay in their homeland while on holiday is having an effect.
“Yes, I believe Canadians are travelling more within Canada,” says Mississauga-based Trevello agent Sheila Aue. “They are discovering what there is available to do in Canada and are taking advantage of the many offerings there are and exploring what is available in their backyard and loving it.”
Aue adds that travellers who are opting for out-of-country vacations are heading to Europe or Asia instead of travelling south of the border.
Similarly, Pat Probert of Bob Family Travel at TravelOnly also says there’s been an upsurge in interest in Canadian vacations.
“Travel in Canada has never been stronger than it has been this year and next year is even looking stronger,” Probert says. “Clients are booking more and more and looking for more Canadian destinations, with Newfoundland becoming our number one destination, along with Nova Scotia and P.E.I.”
He says Newfoundland requests this year were so strong that he decided to offer a 2026 Newfoundland tour that sold out in a few weeks and he’s now looking at adding a second bus.
“Canada is an untouched land, from the Rocky Mountains with the Rocky Mountaineer train that offers so many opportunities,” he continues. “Travel advisors should look at selling one of the greatest and safest countries in the world and we do not need to worry about exchange rates.”
Probert, himself from Nova Scotia, is looking at adding on Cape Breton Island along with Peggy’s Cove and the whole south shore of Nova Scotia.
“Travel is something that every day you can wake up to something new,” he states.
Meanwhile, Paul Nielsen of Toronto’s Paragon Travel, says the trade dispute is prompting many to look at alternatives to American vacations.
“This has led to an uptick of travel requests over the rest of the globe but inside Canada as well,” he says. “Tour operators serving the Canadian market have been super busy providing itineraries from coast-to-coast-to-coast in Canada. Even local exhibits like Little Canada have been inundated with people wanting to invest their down-time in relaxation and culture. All with great benefit to Canadian hospitality businesses.”
However, Rudolph Nareen of Astor Travels in Toronto cautions that many Canadians continue to be eager to travel abroad during their time off work and much of the travel within Canada revolves around visiting families and friends.
“Foreign destinations are more attractive for many Canadians,” he says, adding that out-of-country vacations can often result in financial savings for us.
