BY: IAN STALKER
Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home – especially when the cross-border tariffs dispute is raging and visiting the United States also means getting walloped by the currency exchange.
With Canadians being urged to buy Canadian in this time of tariff tensions, Jamie Milton of Uniglobe Carefree Travel in Saskatoon says there has been an upsurge of interest in vacationing in Canada among her clients.
“We have absolutely been seeing more trips being requested and booked for travel within Canada,” she reports. “Number one that we are seeing is the Maritimes – lots of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia – both independent and escorted tours and bookings. Niagara Falls, Quebec and Vancouver/Vancouver Island are also receiving lots of interest. We are even seeing large corporate or incentive groups looking to move from USA destinations to Canadian destinations.”
However, there is a hindrance for those in Saskatchewan wanting to spend their holidays within this country, Milton reports.
“The main impediment we see, being located in Central Canada – is scheduling,” she states. “We have one airline flying primarily East and one primarily West and connections to and from different cities can be challenging – especially if we are trying to coordinate from multiple gateways. Capacity and options are improving, but very slowly and I’m not sure if it will be in time to fully capitalize on the current potential.”
Delores Fredricksen of CAA Travel in Saint John is also seeing rising interest in Canada vacations.
“The main conversations have been booking with Canada-owned companies, supporting local and, of course, how do we avoid travelling to or through the U.S.,” she reports. “I am seeing a lot of people booking motorcoach tours throughout Canada – Ontario and Quebec especially from Atlantic Canada – but the interest in the Rocky Mountaineer and VIA Rail have increased over the past couple of weeks. The past couple of weeks have reminded me of when the provincial borders opened during COVID, and Canadians were travelling freely throughout our beautiful country, discovering our own backyard.”
Fredricksen says people have passionate views on supporting Canadian. “I believe there are people who are scared, people who are in shock our closest ally is now in a trade war with Canada, but the best feedback is how patriotic Canadians are, especially Atlantic Canadians.”
Meanwhile, Allana Haines of Creative Travel and Tours in Toronto says travel sales are doing well, “Caribbean and European sales are consistent. [But] I haven’t had any particular increase in Canada sales. However, my clients are choosing to avoid the U.S. at all costs. They are choosing cruises within Canada that do not have any U.S. ports. Those flying to the South Pacific are requesting no connections through the U.S. so I’d say the current political situation is definitely impacting consumers’ thoughts.”
The often confusing scenario surrounding tariffs means Haines has some clients who are choosing a “wait-and-see” approach, with those clients wanting to see how the tariff “situation plays out before booking. They’re just unsure what’s next,” she adds.
Ethel Hansen Davey of Uniglobe Enterprise in Toronto says she hasn’t booked any Canadian vacations since tensions between Ottawa and Washington surfaced, but she has recommended some.
“I rarely sell the USA with the exception of a few Vegas bookings and air-only for Florida and Arizona, but most of these have indicated that they will look elsewhere for their winter stay next winter. Several have sold their properties in Florida,” Hansen Davey continues.
Meanwhile, AIR MILES, whose members can offset travel costs through Dream Miles, says this country “has some of the most diverse landscapes that are often overlooked – whether it’s a road trip to Montreal, a local staycation in Collingwood, or a laid-back visit out on the East Coast.”
With demand for Canadian getaways projected to increase this year, AIR MILES says four of the hottest Canadian destinations to book this March Break were:
- Lake Louise: Breathtaking landscapes and world-class sight-seeing in Banff National Park.
- Montreal: A cultural hotspot to experience trendy restaurants, historical landmarks, and festivals.
- Collingwood, Ont: Perfect for skiers looking for a quick escape to Blue Mountain.
• St. John’s: One of the oldest cities in North America, providing a combination of big-city luxury and traditional small-town charm.
