U.S. travel advisories have been causing a massive stir online. Just recently, travelers were outraged after the U.S. cautioned Americans about visiting one of the world’s safest countries. The controversy stems from America’s border conflicts, which have also prompted other countries to release serious warnings for the Land of the Free. Even the friendliest country in the world ramped up its travel alert for the U.S. One country, considered to be one of the most welcoming in the world, even saw a boycott of U.S. travel that only seems to be increasing.

Canada—among the world’s most welcoming nations—continues to update its warnings for U.S. entry, urging Canadians to “expect scrutiny” when crossing the border. Recently, the U.S. has also hit Canada with a Level 1 travel advisory, but it’s not related to the political clash between the two countries. Read on to learn about the travel advisories Canada and the U.S. have issued for each other, as well as the impact of their ongoing clash on America’s looming tourism crisis.

The U.S. Travel Advisory For Canada

Andy.LIU / Shutterstock USA and Canada flags against cloudy sky

On June 11, 2025, the U.S. issued a Level 1 travel advisory for Canada, warning Americans to “exercise normal precautions.” While the U.S. acknowledged that “Canada is generally a safe destination for travelers,” the alert included a report from the U.S. Embassy regarding the 2025 wildfire season in Canada from May to September. There have been concerns after at least two people have died since the wildfires began in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba on May 26.

As of June 20, Canada’s wildfires are still under extreme National Preparedness Level 5, which means “Wildland fire activity is significant within one or more jurisdictions. Firefighters and equipment in every jurisdiction in Canada is put to use, and international help has been requested.”

In the June 20 report from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), there are still 274 active fires in Canada. 101 are “out of control,” 39 are “being held,” 87 are “under control,” and 47 are “out of control” but “monitored.” Some of the affected areas are Manitoba, British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. Manitoba is still at Level 5; Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Yukon are at Level 4; and British Columbia and the Northwest Territories are at Level 3.

Canada Capital Ottawa Area 9.98 million square kilometers (3.85 million square miles) Population 35,000,000 Popular Cities Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, calgary

Some people initially thought that the recent U.S. travel advisory for Canada was a response to the latter’s “bolder” alerts for the former. However, the U.S. travel advisory was only meant to remind Americans to prepare for emergencies like Canada’s wildfires by enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get U.S. Embassy alerts, reviewing the Country Security Report for Canada, reading the Traveler’s Checklist, checking the CDC page for updated Travel Health Information, and getting comprehensive travel insurance.

Canada’s Travel Advisory For The U.S.

On June 17, Canada updated its travel advisory for the U.S. due to the protests in Los Angeles and other cities since June 6. Canadian tourists are warned about these American cities’ “additional security forces” and “curfew orders [that] may be imposed on short notice.” Drug-related criminal incidents near the Mexican border are also included in the list of hazards, along with petty crimes, violent crimes, gun violence, home break-ins, fraud, and terrorism.

Canadian adventurers are also advised about safety when hiking, backpacking, or skiing in the U.S. Among the precautionary measures mentioned were getting travel insurance that covers back-country rescues, embarking on such extreme recreation with a reputable company, studying the location, ensuring physical fitness, and being well-equipped and well-informed about the activities. The advisory even linked information about foreign domestic airlines.

The Canadian government consistently keeps up with the changing travel patterns for U.S. travel. In their latest advisory, they urged Canadians to “comply and be forthcoming in all interactions with border authorities” after reports of electronic device searches in ports of entry. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), they can “lawfully inspect electronic devices crossing the border” as it’s “integral to keeping America safe in an increasingly digital world.” Note that the Canadian government has never discouraged anyone from traveling to the U.S., but a number of citizens have informally started a boycott trend.

Canadian Boycott Of U.S. Travel

According to Statistics Canada’s new data, the Canadian boycott of U.S. travel is becoming more and more significant. In May 2024 alone, the number of Canadians taking road trips to the U.S. (the majority of Canadian visitors) has declined by 38%. That same month also saw a 24% drop in air travelers from Canada year-over-year—the fifth in consecutive months of record downturns. In February, the U.S. Travel Association (USTA) projected that a mere 10% decrease in Canadian inbound tourism could cost the U.S. $2.1 billion in lost spending.

At that time, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau notably encouraged Canadians to reconsider their U.S. travels for the summer. The message seemed to have resonated with many citizens. According to a May survey by Leger Marketing, 75% of 1,500 Canadian adults who had been planning to vacation in the U.S. said the increased tariffs affected their plans. 56% of those who had planned on going to the U.S. also decided to go somewhere else.

“Now is the time to choose Canada,” Trudeau said in a televised speech in February. “It might mean changing your summer vacation plans to stay here in Canada and explore the many national and provincial parks, historical sites and tourist destinations our great country has to offer.”

Canadians aren’t the only ones skipping the U.S. this summer. As early as March, international visits to the U.S. had already gone down 12% year over year, as CNBC reported. Ryan Sweet, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, explained that the current events in America have been turning away tourists from Canada, Western Europe, South America, and Asia. “Foreign visitations to the US are the largest services export in the country and the outlook is quickly souring,” Sweet said.