Arizona Sees Sharp Drop in Canadian Visitors Despite Tourism Recovery

Canadian tourism to Arizona dropped sharply in 2025 despite the state’s broader rebound from the COVID-19 era, stirring fresh concern over the loss of Arizona’s most dependable international visitor markets.

The Arizona Office of Tourism reported on May 12 that Canadian travel to the United States fell by 21 percent in 2025 compared with the previous year, citing data from the U.S. Travel Association.

Arizona recorded an even larger decline, with Canadian visitation to the state falling by 22 percent year-over-year.

Tourism officials pointed to a mix of economic and political pressures behind the downturn, including the weakened Canadian dollar, tighter household spending, travel-entry complications, and growing competition from destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean.

Domestic tourism campaigns in Canada also encouraged more residents to vacation closer to home, they said.

For decades, Arizona has ranked among the top winter destinations for Canadians seeking warmer weather.

The state drew nearly 1 million Canadian visitors in 2015 before travel collapsed during the public health emergency, dropping to roughly 257,000 visitors in 2020.

Visitor numbers climbed steadily after pandemic restrictions eased, reaching 823,000 trips in 2023.

Although the latest decline interrupted that recovery, state tourism officials still forecast average annual growth of 6.3 percent through 2030.

“Air service is a primary factor that impacts travel,” the Arizona Office of Tourism said in an email to The Epoch Times.

Even with the recent downturn, tourism officials said expanding airline service between Canada and Arizona signals that long-term interest in the state remains intact.

Porter Airlines recently introduced a seasonal Vancouver–Phoenix route operating three times per week from February through April. The carrier also plans to begin daily flights between Phoenix and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, in November.

Daily Calgary-to-Phoenix service is expected to follow in December, adding more nonstop connections for Canadian travelers.

Canadian visitors generate an estimated $2.4 billion annually for Arizona’s economy, including roughly $1.4 billion tied to seasonal residents known as “snowbirds,” according to the Canada Arizona Business Council.

Those seasonal visitors—many of them retirees escaping harsh northern winters—often spend four months or more each year in Arizona.

The business council said those extended stays create a steady stream of spending tied to housing, health care, taxes, restaurants, retail businesses, and entertainment.

The group noted that snowbirds are frequently overlooked in tourism strategies and airline planning despite their economic value.

As Arizona’s second-largest international visitor market behind Mexico, Canada remains an “extremely important and beloved market to the Arizona Office of Tourism,” the office stated.

“We are continuing the in-person tactics and programs that have resulted in a strong Arizona–Canada relationship spanning decades,” it stated.

The agency stated that it continues to invest in trade outreach and marketing efforts designed to rebuild Canadian travel to Arizona.

In March, Arizona tourism representatives traveled to Toronto and Vancouver alongside industry partners to meet with Canadian tour operators and travel advisers.

“These missions allow Arizona tourism suppliers, like hotels, attractions, and local DMOs, to meet directly with Canadian tour operators and travel agents to ensure Arizona packages are featured prominently in their catalogs,” the agency stated.

The outreach campaign also highlights Arizona’s outdoor recreation industry, Dark Skies tourism, and preparations for the upcoming Route 66 Centennial.

Arizona is one of eight states along the historic 2,448-mile Route 66 corridor linking Chicago and Los Angeles.