Canadians Are Looking Abroad Again

The domestic travel surge of the past year is easing, and the money is starting to look outward. A new survey from Leger, published 8 October, finds that 61% of Canadians planning a fall leisure trip intend to travel within Canada, down from 77% in the summer. Plans for Mexico rose to 9% from 4%, and plans for other international destinations rose to 23% from 15%.

For advisors, that is the clearest signal yet that the outbound book is reopening, and that Mexico and long-haul are the beneficiaries rather than the United States.

The numbers

Leger surveyed 1,538 Canadians online between 4 and 6 September 2026. Key findings:

• Overall intent: 50% plan a leisure trip this fall, down from 56% in summer 2026 and 55% in spring 2026.
• Domestic: 61% of fall travellers plan to stay in Canada, versus 77% in summer.
• Mexico: 9%, up from 4%.
• Other international: 23%, up from 15%.

Leger notes the sample is drawn from its online panel and is non-probability, so no formal margin of error applies; a probability sample of the same size would carry a margin of about ±2.5 points, 19 times out of 20.

The U.S. question

The shift is not a thaw on the United States. 60% of respondents say they are less open to U.S. travel than at any point in the past year. What has changed is where that displaced demand goes. Among those less likely to visit the U.S., 63% would travel within Canada instead, down from 77%, and 15% say they are unlikely to travel at all, up from 11%.

If trade tensions eased, 28% say they would be more likely to visit the U.S., while 43% say their likelihood would stay about the same. Advisors should not plan on a quick rebound.

Value still drives the booking

31% say they look for deals, discounts or packages more often than a few years ago. About one in five are choosing closer destinations, quieter travel periods, cheaper accommodation or planning further ahead. When asked what would draw them to a new Canadian destination, the top answer was deals or packages (41%), ahead of unique attractions (29%) and scenic drives (28%).

AI enters the planning stage

22% of Canadians have used AI to plan, book or manage leisure travel, up from 10% in spring 2025, and 34% say they are likely to use it for their next trip. Among users, the main tasks are destination suggestions (51%), itinerary planning (47%) and finding savings (35%). Use is highest among younger travellers; 26% of those aged 35 to 54 have used it, against 10% of those 55 and older.

For advisors

• Pitch: Mexico and long-haul winter sun to clients who stayed home in 2025 and 2026; the intent data says they are ready to move.
• Package: lead with packaged value. Deals and packages are the single biggest motivator in the survey.
• Watch: U.S. sentiment remains entrenched; keep U.S. inventory for committed clients rather than re-prioritizing it.
• Position: with a fifth of travellers already using AI to plan, sell what a chatbot cannot: supplier access, problem-solving and on-trip support.

Sources

• Leger, 8 Oct 2026