Canadian tourists are skipping the U.S., which could spell trouble for Utah

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As Canadian visitors abandon U.S. destinations in droves, that could spell trouble for Utah's billion-dollar tourism industry.

Utah's tourism industry generates nearly $900 million in economic activity annually. Canadian tourists account for just over a quarter of that.

According to data from Statistics Canada, automobile trips by Canadians returning from the U.S. dropped 36.9% in July compared to a year ago. Return trips via air from the U.S. also dropped 25.8%. Meanwhile, the number of return trips from other countries increased 5.9% because Canadians were traveling elsewhere.

The stakes are particularly high for Utah, where Canadian visitors made up an outsized 40% of tourists in 2023 – over 270,000 people. These aren't just casual visitors; they're the state's premium tourists, known for longer stays and deeper pockets than their counterparts.

The decline in tourism from Canada may not abate anytime soon.

In July, President Donald Trump signed an executive order increasing tariffs on Canadian products entering the U.S. from 25% to 35%.

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