As the world grapples with shifting geopolitical tensions, many are changing how they approach travel, opting for more cautious and sometimes last-minute decisions.
For some, the decision to cancel or alter travel plans is a direct response to rising uncertainty.
"We had planned to go to Disneyland over spring break, something our kids had been looking forward to for the past six months," said Alex Lorenz, a Saanich resident. "But we had to make the decision to cancel due to everything that is going on."
Lorenz's situation reflects a broader change in how Canadians are approaching leisure travel.
"It's hard to explain to a six-year-old that we aren't going because of geopolitical issues," Lorenz added. "All they hear is we aren't going, but we had to make the decision that we feel lines up with our family morals."
Amra Durakovic, head of communications at Flight Centre Canada, highlighted that this sentiment is mirrored across the travel industry. According to Durakovic, there has been a significant impact on leisure bookings, especially between Canada and the U.S.
"We saw a 40 per cent decrease in leisure bookings between Canada and the United States in February," Durakovic explained. "Canadians are more cautious now. People want to feel more secure."
At the same time, Durakovic noted a shift in where Canadians are choosing to travel.
"We’re also seeing more people shifting their plans to overseas destinations like Europe and Australia, as these regions are seen as more stable for travel, and closer to our dollar."
Elizabeth Brown, president and CEO of the Victoria Airport Society, acknowledged the shift in travel behaviour but also emphasized a significant concern: the potential impact of tariffs on the creation of new aircraft.
While current traffic levels remain steady at YYJ, she believes escalating tariffs could eventually affect airlines' ability for Canadian carriers to expand their fleets and maintain capacity.
"Our biggest concern is the tariffs, especially those impacting aircraft manufacturing," Brown explained. "At this point, we're seeing steady traffic, but if tariffs continue to rise, it could have a longer-term impact on air travel capacity, especially with new aircraft and increased costs.
“This could, in turn, lead to increased flight costs for passengers, as the upkeep of aircraft will become more expensive due to parts that Canadian carriers source from the United States. We're already hearing signals from the main carriers here in Canada that they will reduce capacity to the U.S."
Brown also addressed infrastructure concerns at the Victoria International Airport, noting that there are "functional pinch points" that need to be addressed to accommodate growing traffic.
These include capacity constraints in hold rooms and baggage areas, which require significant infrastructure investments. Brown’s concern is that tariffs could drive up costs for these essential upgrades.
"These issues will require significant investments, and our concern is that rising costs from tariffs will impact the ability to address these pinch points," Brown said.
While family vacations, like the one Alex Lorenz had planned, are still on the table for many Canadians, the decision to travel is becoming more carefully considered.
