New data released Jan. 23, 2026 by Statistics Canada shows a sharp drop in cross-border travel that is being felt in Carman, Manitoba. In November 2025, Canadian-resident return trips from the United States fell 23.6% year over year, while trips to Canada by US residents decreased 9.0%.
Carman sits approximately 60 kilometres north of the United States border and often sees visitors from North Dakota and Minnesota who come to use the Carman Golf and Curling Club or shop at local boutiques. Local leaders say fewer travellers mean less money being spent at area restaurants and businesses.
Jodi Winkler, Executive Director of the Carman & Community Chamber of Commerce, says the town has worked to become a destination and that the national trend of reduced cross-border travel is being felt on the ground. Tyler King, Director of Economic Development, Carman‑Dufferin, says the community is looking for ways to attract more visitors from within Manitoba to help offset the loss of American tourists.
Analysts and local officials have pointed to several potential reasons for the decline — including inflation and higher fuel costs and, regionally, shifts in border-related travel patterns and policies — though no single factor fully explains the drop. The Province of Manitoba has noted that tourism is a vital contributor to the provincial economy, and businesses in southern Manitoba are adjusting to a quieter season than in recent years.
