TORONTO — After two years (or more) of ‘seeing red’ when thinking about U.S. vacation plans, will some Canadian travellers start reconsidering U.S. travel now that the electoral map is showing a lot more blue?

No sense getting too optimistic, but last night’s midterm election results could prove a bit of a boost for all the travel advisors, tour operators, airlines and tourism boards invested in Canada-to-U.S. travel. 

Small gains were already underway, with two months in a row of Canada-to-U.S. increases for both car travel and air travel. The numbers are still a long, long way off 2024 stats – but the small jumps year over year in 2026 vs. 2025 suggest ‘quiet tourism’ from Canada to the U.S. is gaining ground.

The trade war wages on, and millions of Canadians won’t return to the U.S. until at least 2028, or until the 51st state rhetoric is retired for good. 

For others, the blue wave and a return to check-and-balances at the highest levels of power is a sign of hope – and that could impact vacation plans for some.

Even the exchange rate is cooperating. The loonie is at a seven-week high.

“THAT CONVERSATION IS WHERE THE BOOKING BEGINS”

Tour operators and travel retailers Travelweek spoke to aren’t expecting a tsunami of U.S. trips booked in the wake of the blue wave – but they’re intently watching what happens.

“The stats will show it in the coming months,” said TTAND’s founder and CEO, Flemming Friisdahl.

“First, it still will be almost two months before the change,” he added. “Second, I think many Canadians are upset with the tariffs and that has not changed and that is what is costing Canadian jobs.”

Third, said Friisdahl, President Trump will still be in the news. “I am sure he will still say Canadians are cheating and stealing from the USA. I don’t see anything changing until the trade war starts to come to an end and there are some controls over how visitors are treated in the U.S.”

ACV’s Vice-President, Nino Montagnese, is more optimistic. “I believe Canadians will feel more comfortable travelling back to the U.S.,” he says. Weekend trips could be the biggest benefactor.

“We’ve seen a slight increase in bookings, particularly to Las Vegas, Florida and California,” he added.

Nathalie Tanious, President & CEO of H.I.S. Canada Travel Inc., parent company of travelbrands, is hopeful too. “We are cautiously optimistic that this could signal the beginning of a positive shift. We’ll be monitoring booking trends over the coming weeks to see whether this translates into increased demand,” said Tanious.

Trevello Travel Group CEO Zeina Gedeon said one election night won’t undo two years of uncertainity and turmoil. “The administration hasn’t changed, and the Canadians who said they won’t go back until it does will keep their word,” she said.

“What we have been seeing, is a small thawing of travel. I don’t expect a rush of bookings this morning. If we see momentum, it will show up in spring and summer 2027 bookings, not this week. But I do expect a lot of conversations to restart, and for advisors, that conversation is where the booking begins.”