Mexico has joined a growing roster of destinations flagged in Canada’s latest travel advisories just as the crucial winter and year end vacation season gets underway, placing the country alongside Colombia, Nicaragua, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, North Korea and others.

At the same time, a sharp downturn in Canadian trips to the United States is pushing travellers to look farther afield for sun, culture and value, fundamentally reshaping where Canadians will spend the 2025–26 holiday period.

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Mexico Added to Heightened-Risk List as Canadians Head South

Canada’s updated advisory for Mexico, refreshed in mid December and widely circulated this week in consumer media, urges travellers to “exercise a high degree of caution” due to high levels of criminal activity and kidnapping, and warns against non essential travel to several states affected by cartel violence and instability. The guidance notes that while resort areas remain the backbone of Canadian winter tourism, venturing beyond controlled tourist zones can involve significantly higher risk.

Recent summaries highlight concerns about violent crime, armed robberies, carjackings and “express kidnappings,” and point to incidents that have occurred in and around popular destinations, including major resort corridors on both coasts. Travellers are told to avoid driving at night, be wary of unofficial taxis and keep a low profile outside their hotels, reflecting a more sober tone even as demand for Mexican beach vacations continues to climb.

Despite the tougher language, Mexico remains one of the most sought after winter getaways for Canadians. Tour operators and airline schedulers report that bookings to sun destinations such as Cancún, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos are among the strongest in their portfolios this season, outpacing some Caribbean islands and far exceeding demand for traditional U.S. snowbird states.

Colombia, Nicaragua, Vietnam and Others Under the Spotlight

Mexico is not alone. Colombia and Nicaragua are singled out in the latest Government of Canada travel advice as destinations where visitors should exercise a high degree of caution, with both countries now appearing prominently on winter advisory roundups circulated by Canadian media and travel platforms. Colombia’s page, updated on December 15, stresses the presence of illegal armed groups, frequent violent crime and the risk of terrorist incidents, particularly in remote and conflict affected regions.

In Nicaragua, Canadian officials also recommend a high degree of caution, citing poor road safety, unreliable public transport and the risk of petty crime and isolated violent incidents. Travellers are advised to avoid night driving, stick to convoys in rural areas and use only vetted taxi or ride hailing services, underlining how basic infrastructure and security concerns can complicate what might otherwise be a low cost Central American escape.

Farther afield, Southeast Asian favourites such as Vietnam and the Philippines, along with Myanmar and tightly closed North Korea, appear on Canadian advisory lists with varying levels of concern. Vietnam and the Philippines are generally categorized under “exercise a high degree of caution,” typically for crime, road safety and natural hazards, while Myanmar and North Korea fall under more severe designations driven by political instability, conflict and restrictions on consular access.

The net result is that many of the very destinations Canadians are considering as alternatives to the United States now come wrapped in caveats. Travellers are being nudged to weigh not just price and climate, but also evolving security conditions and the level of support they could expect in an emergency.

Canada’s Advisory System Tightens Ahead of Peak Holiday Travel

The latest revisions form part of a broad year end refresh of the federal travel advice and advisories portal, which lists every country by risk category, from “take normal security precautions” to “avoid all travel.” Many pages were updated on December 15, just as Canadians began finalizing late December and early January trips, and several media outlets have since compiled lists of popular winter escapes that now come with warnings.

Mexico’s advisory was among those highlighted, with consumer coverage stressing that Ottawa urges a high degree of caution nationwide and specifically calls for avoiding non essential travel to multiple Mexican states associated with cartel violence. Similar scrutiny has fallen on other winter favourites where local crime spikes over the holidays, from parts of the Caribbean to Latin America and Southeast Asia.

Officials emphasize that a high degree of caution does not mean Canadians should cancel trips outright, but rather that they should monitor local developments closely, stick to well travelled areas and consider reputable tour operators and resorts when booking. The push reflects a wider effort by the Canadian government to balance strong outbound demand with rising geopolitical volatility, organized crime and climate related disruptions in key tourism markets.

Why Canadians Are Turning Away From the United States

The tightening advisory landscape coincides with an unprecedented slump in Canadian travel to the United States, long the default winter destination for snowbirds and holidaymakers. A Flight Centre Canada survey released on December 17 reported a 40 percent drop in bookings to the U.S., with travellers choosing “the sunny south and Europe” instead and showing a greater willingness to fly longer distances and stay away for extended periods.

Economic pressures are a leading factor. A weaker Canadian dollar, elevated U.S. hotel and rental car prices and higher airfares have all made traditional escapes to Florida, Arizona and Nevada feel more expensive. Travel agents say many clients now find that an all inclusive package in Mexico or the Caribbean offers better value than a condo and car hire in a U.S. sunbelt city, even before factoring in dining and entertainment.

Politics and border frictions are compounding the shift. A series of tariffs and pointed remarks from Washington over the past year have fuelled a broad Canadian boycott movement that has translated into fewer cross border shopping trips and vacations. Aviation analytics and government statistics show steep declines in trans border flight bookings and car trips, with some airlines trimming capacity on key U.S. routes and redeploying aircraft to Mexico and other overseas destinations.

Surveys conducted by insurers and research firms this autumn found that a clear majority of Canadians are now less likely to visit the United States in the coming year due to political tensions, trade disputes and less favourable exchange rates. Yet most of those staying away say they still intend to travel, underscoring how the U.S. is losing share of a stable or even growing Canadian outbound market rather than benefiting from any broader pullback.

Where Canadian Travellers Are Going Instead

The beneficiaries of this realignment are scattered across the Americas, Europe and Asia. Travel industry executives told investors this year that Canadian guests are increasingly bypassing U.S. cities entirely in favour of Mexico, Brazil, France, Japan and a mix of Caribbean islands. For many, the U.S. has become “flyover country,” a corridor they cross en route to destinations that feel more welcoming or offer stronger value for money.

Recent industry reports show Mexico, Spain and Portugal among the biggest winners for winter 2025, attracting snowbirds who once would have headed for Florida or California. European city breaks bundled with seasonal Christmas market visits, as well as long stay rentals along the Iberian and Mediterranean coasts, are also proving popular, especially among younger travellers and remote workers able to combine holiday time with extended stays abroad.

The Caribbean remains a mainstay, from Dominican Republic and Jamaica to smaller islands offering boutique resorts and villa rentals. Canadian carriers have announced additional frequencies to some of these sun destinations, even as they reduce capacity on U.S. routes. Tour operators report that multi week all inclusive packages are selling strongly among retirees who might previously have driven south for months at a time.

Within Canada, domestic tourism boards in provinces like British Columbia, Quebec and Nova Scotia are stepping up winter marketing campaigns, positioning ski towns, urban festivals and coastal retreats as appealing alternatives for families wary of complex international travel or fluctuating advisory levels. National pride and a desire to keep spending at home are also playing into this trend.

Balancing Risk and Reward in the New Advisory Landscape

For Canadian travellers, the coincidence of expanded travel advisories and a pivot away from the United States presents a new calculation. Many of the destinations now being promoted by airlines and tour operators arrive with asterisks attached, whether due to crime, political instability or infrastructure gaps. Travel insurers and experts say this makes careful planning and risk assessment more crucial than ever.

Industry professionals recommend that Canadians review the official advisory for any destination both at the time of booking and shortly before departure, as conditions in some countries can change rapidly. They also urge travellers to pay particular attention to regional advisories within countries, which may distinguish between safer resort enclaves and areas where Ottawa recommends avoiding non essential or all travel.

At the same time, travel companies insist that with the right precautions, many of these destinations can still be enjoyed safely. Large resort complexes in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere have invested heavily in private security and controlled access, and established tour operators generally work with vetted local partners. Urban centres in Vietnam and the Philippines, for example, continue to draw Canadian visitors attracted by food, culture and relative affordability, even as they heed warnings about petty crime and traffic risks.

Underlying it all is a growing reliance on digital tools. A recent Blue Cross travel study found that nearly half of Canadians are now using artificial intelligence powered platforms to help them manage rising costs and navigate global uncertainty, from comparing packages and tracking currency swings to receiving alert updates on advisory changes via their mobile devices.

FAQ

Q1. Why has Mexico been highlighted in Canada’s latest travel advisories?
Canada’s updated advisory calls for a high degree of caution in Mexico due to widespread criminal activity and kidnapping, and identifies several states where officials recommend avoiding non essential travel because of cartel violence and instability.

Q2. Does the advisory mean Canadians should cancel trips to Mexican resorts?
No. The advisory focuses on risk awareness and precautions. Many Canadians continue to visit major resort areas, but are encouraged to stay within established tourist zones, avoid night driving and use only trusted transportation providers.

Q3. Which other countries are drawing attention in the new advisory list?
Colombia, Nicaragua, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar and North Korea are among the destinations now prominently flagged, with varying levels of caution based on factors such as crime, political unrest and limitations on consular support.

Q4. Why are fewer Canadians travelling to the United States this winter?
A weaker Canadian dollar, higher U.S. travel costs, political tensions, new tariffs and concerns about border hassles have all contributed to a significant drop in bookings, according to surveys of travellers and data from airlines and travel agencies.

Q5. Where are Canadians going instead of the United States?
Many are choosing Mexico, the Caribbean, Spain, Portugal and other overseas destinations, while others are opting for domestic trips within Canada or exploring long haul options in Europe, Asia and South America.

Q6. How should Canadians use the Government of Canada travel advisories?
Travellers are advised to consult the official advisory for each destination before booking and again before departure to understand the overall risk level, regional warnings, safety tips and any entry, health or insurance considerations.

Q7. Are destinations like Vietnam and the Philippines considered unsafe for tourists?
Canada generally recommends a high degree of caution in these countries, mainly for crime, traffic and occasional unrest, but they remain popular with Canadian visitors who follow local guidance, stay in reputable accommodations and avoid higher risk areas.

Q8. How are airlines responding to the shift away from U.S. travel?
Several Canadian carriers have reduced capacity on U.S. routes and increased flights to sun destinations such as Mexico and the Caribbean, reflecting strong demand for non U.S. winter getaways.

Q9. What role is technology playing in Canadian travel decisions?
Studies show that many Canadians are using AI powered tools and digital platforms to compare prices, track advisory changes, manage budgets and build more flexible itineraries that can adapt to evolving global risks.

Q10. What precautions should Canadians take when visiting countries under higher risk advisories?
Experts recommend booking with reputable operators, staying in well known tourism areas, avoiding night travel and isolated locations, securing valuables, monitoring local news and registering contact details with Canadian consular services before and during the trip.