A recent survey indicates a significant shift in the travel plans of Canadian retirees during the winter season. According to the 2025 Winter Smart Travellers Survey conducted by the Travel Health Insurance Association (THIA) of Canada, only 26% of Canadians are considering traveling to the United States between October 2025 and March 2026. This marks a notable 37% decrease from the previous winter, with the sharpest decline observed among Boomers, whose intent to travel to the U.S. dropped from 31% to just 10%.

Analysts attribute this change to various factors, including the introduction of new entry requirements by the U.S., such as mandatory biometric registration and a $30 border fee for non-citizens staying over 30 days. These measures, scheduled to be implemented on December 26, are seen as deterrents for older travelers. Additionally, the extension of biometric rules to children under 14 and seniors over 79 further contributes to the reluctance among this demographic.

In contrast, younger Canadians appear more willing to embark on trips to the U.S., with close to 45% of individuals aged 18–34 still planning visits, indicating a clear generational disparity in travel preferences.

The THIA report also underscores a broader shift in travel patterns, revealing that only 12% of Canadians intending to travel during the winter months have chosen the U.S. as their destination, with a growing preference for other provinces or Caribbean locales.

Travellers have expressed several key concerns influencing their decisions, with high costs (41%), political tensions (40%), and exchange rates (29%) being the most commonly cited factors.