Seattle feels Canada's slowdown

Seattle is facing a significant drop in its primary source of international tourism as Canadian visitor numbers continue to decline. Recent data shows that Canadian travel to the United States fell by 25% last year, and this downward trend persists into early 2026. Because Canadians historically account for more than 73% of international visitors to Seattle, this shift creates a clear economic impact on the local travel industry.

Government reports link this decrease to trade tensions and specific political rhetoric. The shift in travel habits resulted in 7.1 million fewer trips to the United States in 2025 and a reduction in spending by C$3.3 billion. For the Seattle market specifically, Canadian visits dropped 36% last year, bringing the total to 1.1 million visitors. This decline contributed to a drop in local visitor spending to an estimated $377 million.

While the numbers show a significant cooling in the tourism sector, there are signs that the decline may be leveling off. Statistics Canada data from the second quarter of 2026 suggests that the reduction in cross-border travel is slowing, particularly with a recent rebound in road trips. Local businesses and tourism advocates remain focused on how these travel patterns will stabilize throughout the remainder of the year.