Canadian tourism has been a hot topic in 2025, as many have explicitly opted out of travel to the United States. And heading into 2026, where Canadians will travel and unleash their spending power is still under critical watch, for good reason.
Late this month, Travel and Tour World, a respected industry news source, reported that Canadian tourism to the Caribbean is declining.
The outlet detailed that Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic have all seen fewer Canadian visitors in 2025. According to the source, the decline in Canadian tourism to those Caribbean countries ranged from 1.5% to 18% down from the previous year. Moreover, Dominica reportedly experienced a 36.5% decline in Canadian travelers between January and June this year compared to last year.
Other Caribbean countries that have reportedly seen a decline in Canadian arrivals during a specific period this year compared to the same period last year are St. Vincent, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Bonaire, and Anguilla.Many Canadians are opting to visit other international destinations outside the U.S. and the Caribbean, or to explore more within their home country. Still, tourism remains extremely important to the Caribbean’s regional success and economy.
Reasons why Canadian tourism to the Caribbean has declined could include consumer cost-saving measures, domestic inflation, expensive vacation costs, and travelers’ changing preferences. Changes in the U.S., especially following President Trump’s inauguration for his second term this year, have largely affected Canada’s views on stateside visits.
Traditionally, destinations in Jamaica and throughout the Caribbean have been end-of-year, warm-weather respites for Canadians hoping to ditch the cold. Following Hurricane Melissa in October 2025 and swift recovery efforts, Jamaica announced that it has since welcomed 300,000 visitors. However, even still, some travelers may remain cautious.
Canadian tourism, and the lack of it, has the potential to reshape tourism and hospitality in the Caribbean in both the short and long term. Time will tell how the region tries to lure Canadians back, and whether Canadians’ absences will make travel cheaper or more expensive for other visitors to the Caribbean.