Fewer Albertans travelled to and from the U.S. since January: data, experts suggest

Fewer Albertans are travelling to and from the United States this year, Statistics Canada data shows, aligning with a trend that is becoming prevalent across Canada.

Statistics Canada data shows a decline in Canadians returning to the country from the U.S. at Alberta border crossings in the last two months. In February, nearly 4,000 fewer Canadians returned to the country through Alberta border crossings than during the same month in 2024. In March, more than 4,300 fewer Canadians made the same return trip across the border year-over-year.

When compared with the first three months of 2024, Canadians returning from the U.S. by air to airports in either Calgary or Edmonton in the first three months of 2025 saw similar declines.

Racine Friede, the president and CEO of Western Montana's Glacier Country, says her regional tourism organization is starting to see a dip in the number of Albertans visiting the northwestern part of the state.

"We have some businesses that are saying they haven't seen much of a change, while we are hearing from others that they're seeing anywhere from 20 to 30 or 40 per cent of a decrease in bookings from their Canadian clients and customers," she said.

Friede says her organization focuses on attracting tourists to Montana, as well as maintaining the relationship between her state and Canadian provinces. 

"We just have a special bond with Alberta and British Columbians," she said.

"We've certainly been hearing stories about people that have family here and they might be coming down less. The family from here might be going [to Alberta] a little bit more than normal."

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Friede says her organization is about to launch a summer advertising campaign to attract more Albertans — and Canadians overall — to visit Montana, in light of the recent decline in travel.

"We're all like-minded when it comes to our thoughts and feelings about just making sure people know that we miss them, that we're here when they are ready to come or when they feel more comfortable coming," she said.

"Canadians are not just a market to us. They are friends and they are neighbours, and that's how we view them."

Canadians' changing travel habits comes amid political and economic tensions between their country and the U.S., that have arisen during an ongoing trade war.

Sarah Halprin, travel agent with The Travel Agent Next Door, says she hasn't seen Canadians hesitate to travel this much since major public health restrictions were imposed around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic.