TORONTO — With kids across the country counting down the days – maybe even the minutes – until the last day of school, so too is the travel industry waiting anxiously to see how the summer season will pan out.
Travel demand for the U.S. is still down, with a recent Leger poll revealing that 56% of Canadians who were planning a trip across the border now intend to travel elsewhere amid the tariff war. This, naturally, is diverting traffic to other destinations, namely within Canada (48% of Canadians say they’re likely to travel within their home province), though the Caribbean, Europe and big bucket-list locales are also seeing major bumps in interest and bookings.
“Over the last three months, in addition to steady interest in London, Paris and Dublin, we’ve seen significant growth in bookings to Athens, Los Cabos, Copenhagen, Reykjavik, Edinburgh, Auckland and Melbourne,” Nate Mosher, travel expert for Flight Centre Canada tells Travelweek. “Today’s travellers are going further, staying longer and choosing destinations that offer cultural depth and good return on experience.”
Christine James, Vice President Canada at Travel Leaders Network, is also seeing similar upward trends. “We’re seeing a significant uptick in Europe bookings compared to last year. We’re also seeing a shift to Mexico, and the Caribbean overall is still trending ahead of last year. Due to the current environment, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing a significant decrease in U.S. bookings,” James tells Travelweek.
SURPRISING DESTINATIONS
According to Mosher, Copenhagen, Athens and Auckland are three standout surprises this summer in terms of booking volume, each seeing a double-digit increase compared to this time last year. Copenhagen, he says, is having a “cultural moment” with its thriving foodie scene and bike-friendly infrastructure, while Athens (and lesser-known islands like Naxos and Rhodes) is benefitting from new airlift and its continued success as a cruise hub. Auckland, meanwhile, is seeing more interest from Canadians looking for longer stays in the off-peak season, with many spending layovers in Melbourne and Sydney.
What’s driving these increases? “A few things,” says Mosher. “Increased connectivity, versatility and a growing awareness of travelling responsibly. According to a recent Flight Centre-YouGov survey, 71% of Canadians are concerned about the impacts of overtourism, while 81% say they’d swap a popular destination for a less-crowded alternative.”
James says that Travel Leaders Network is seeing s shift in cruise bookings, from the Caribbean to more Europe and the South Pacific. “Even Alaska cruises are doing well, perhaps because they depart from a Canadian gateway and clients are hesitant to travel to the U.S. right now,” she says.

Copenhagen, Denmark
WHAT AGENTS ARE BOOKING
When it comes to this summer’s most popular destinations, no one has a better pulse than front-line travel agents.
Cheri Ozimac, Senior Travel Designer and cruise specialist at Tully Luxury Travel, tells Travelweek that amid an underperforming economy, rising hotel rates and the high cost of goods, cruising – with its all-inclusive convenience – has emerged as a top choice for value. These factors are also influencing where clients are choosing to cruise.
“With all the uncertainty in the market and global issues, I’m seeing a lot more requests for close-to-home travel, such as Alaska, the Great Lakes, Mississippi river cruises and Canada & New England,” says Ozimac. “There are a lot of promotions designed to drive business, like Canada-at-par pricing, to encourage Canadians to travel. A lot of Canadians are skipping travel to the U.S. and trying other destinations for their summer travel.”
Marianna Vogel, owner of Just for You Travel & Consulting in Dundas, Ontario, says clients are telling her upfront that they don’t want to travel anywhere near the United States. One even took a loss because “they were so adamant about not stepping foot in the country,” she says. Instead, her clients are opting to explore Canada, many by rail. “People are paying the extra money to do the Rocky Mountaineer, and many are doing road trips for a few days but not crossing the border like they used to. My Disney sales have dropped to all but zero. The whole world is waiting and seeing what will happen next with the U.S. administration.”
Scott Penney of The Travel Agent Next Door in Stewiacke, NS, also corroborates what recent survey results have shown – that clients are booking Europe and Canada in droves. “I have many repeat clients who want to go somewhere different and Europe has so many options that feel safe to visit,” he says. “Plus, there are many more promotions encouraging Canadians to stay home and explore our own backyard. Canadians have become so much more patriotic this year, and they want to support local businesses.”
River cruising and rail travel, says Penney, have seen a sharp rise in bookings in recent months. “I have booked many more river cruises this year than in any other year. I’ve received a few more last-minute inquiries but unfortunately, so many river cruises are already sold out. It really pays to book early, and many clients are already securing spots for next year,” he says. As for rail travel, Penney has booked several train journeys for clients this summer and fall, something he hasn’t booked a lot of in the past. “I think clients are looking for different ways to explore the world. Train travel opens up so many amazing and unique experiences for them,” he adds.
Gary Rams of Calgary-based Crowfoot Travel Solutions tells Travelweek that his clients are travelling further afield, with Japan and Thailand leading the surge. “Asia is coming back strong amid an increase in flights,” he says. “People are finally considering destinations that have been on their list for years.”
Noting that his bookings are “all over the map” for summer 2025, Rams adds that there has been an increase in bookings from one segment in particular: single travellers.
“I have a lot of new single clients of all ages who are looking to travel,” he says. “They’re travelling all around the world – except to the United States.”
This article originally appears in the June 12 issue of Travelweek. To read the issue, click here.

Cruising in Alaska