Oh, Canada.
A newly conducted study reveals Canada as the world’s most desired destination for relocation. And it’s not even close.
Canada secured the top spot globally with 68.72 searches per 100 million capita, more than double that of second-place Australia (31.05). Talk about a landslide win.
Canada outperforms other English-speaking countries like New Zealand and Ireland. The U.S. did not make the top ten.
My Baggage conducted a study analyzing global search volume data to determine which countries people worldwide are most interested in relocating to. The study provides insights into current global migration trends and preferences, with Canada emerging as the clear frontrunner.
Top 10 Countries People Most Want to Move to:
| RANK | Country | Global Search Volume per 100M-capita |
| 1 | Canada | 68.72 |
| 2 | Australia | 31.05 |
| 3 | New Zealand | 16.91 |
| 4 | Switzerland | 9.69 |
| 5 | Ireland | 9.22 |
| 6 | Spain | 7.84 |
| 7 | Portugal | 7.53 |
| 8 | Japan | 7.01 |
| 9 | Germany | 6.61 |
| 10 | Iceland | 4.86 |
“Canada leads overwhelmingly as a relocation destination, said Paul Stewart, CEO ofMy Baggage. “Its first-place ranking in our Global Relocation Index shows more than double the search volume of its closest competitor, speaking volumes about its global reputation.”
Stewart said Canada’s combination of economic opportunities, high quality of life, natural beauty, and welcoming culture “clearly resonates with people worldwide” who are considering international moves.
“Particularly noteworthy is that Canada outperforms other popular English-speaking destinations by a significant margin, suggesting that there are unique advantages that set it apart.”
The Canadian flag at Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta. Expedia Photo
CANADIAN “TRAVEL AT HOME” SENTIMENT GROWS EVER STRONGER
Canadians have responded to U.S. President’s Donald Trump’s talk of tariffs and U.S. annexation of Canada by increasingly buying Canadian. And that goes for travel, as well.
Study after study indicates Canadians are making it a point to avoid U.S. travel in the near future. A new report by EQ Bank so the number of Canadians making that a priority is growing ever stronger.
EQ bank’s survey, which was taken Feb. 4 to 6 and sampled the opinion of 1,510 online Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum, found that nearly seven-in-ten female respondents (68%) said they’re prioritizing travel within Canada following Trump’s tariff announcements. That’s up 16 points from the previous 52%, which came in a poll conducted Jan. 15 to 17 and sampled 1,512 Canadians.
The number of males taking the same position is now 57%, which is up from 48% in the company’s January poll.
Travel experts say Trump’s tariff talks and his repeated comments about making Canada a 51st state have angered Canadians and caused them to re-think plans to visit the U.S. The low Canadian dollar also is hurting cross-border traffic.
Air Canada recently said it will pare back on scheduled flights from Canada to Florida, Arizona and Las Vegas. WestJet has said that interest in flights to the U.S. is down 25%.
Considering women often make the travel decisions in Canadian households, the EQ Bank survey is quite significant. It also bodes well for Canadian tourism, and not so well for the U.S.
A recent statement from the U.S. Travel Association said that even a 10% drop in Canadian visits to the U.S. could mean 2.0 million fewer cross-border visits, $2.1 billion in lost spending and 14,000 job losses in the States.
A DELAYED BAG…BUT AMAZING SERVICE FROM AIR CANADA
Air Canada app
U.S. TSA officials screened my checked bag at Toronto Pearson Airport on Wednesday and the bag didn’t make my Air Canada flight to San Francisco.
Upon arriving, I waited and didn’t see my suitcase on the carousel. I checked my Air Canada app, and it showed my bag (the app had my bag number clearly spelled out) was still in Toronto. I filled out a short form at the Air Canada baggage service centre at SFO and was told my bag would likely arrive the next day. The woman at the centre gave me two phone numbers to call for the delivery service that would bring my bag to me at my Dad’s house in the Bay Area. But I didn’t need them.
Almost immediately after talking to the agent at SFO I got an email from Air Canada explaining the process.
I checked the app on my phone on Thursday morning and it showed my bag had been loaded on an early morning flight from Toronto to San Francisco. It later showed my bag had arrived, and I got a text confirming it was being loaded on a delivery truck. I also got an email that said the bag would be delivered by a gentleman named Ramon by 10:15 p.m.
Later in the day, I got a text that took me to a map that showed my bag was at a storage facility near SFO. Then another one that showed it had crossed the Hayward-San Mateo Bridge and was on its way. Around 7 p.m. I got a knock on the door of my Dad’s house and there was Ramon with my bag.
Easy peasy.
Delays happen. In this case, it appeared to be a U.S. TSA issue. Whatever the cause, the process for reuniting with my bag and my clean clothes and toiletries was remarkable. The Air Canada app showed the bag was delayed and that it was in Toronto. (I also have a tracking tag from Apple as a backup). It also showed me that the bag was on the plane and on the way to California. I received a text message from Air Canada that told me my bag had been picked up. I got another to say it was on its way. I had a little map that showed me precisely where my bag was. And it arrived on time.
I fly Air Canada a lot, and the app is great for helping me keep track of my flights and for checking in. It also tells me of flight delays and expected arrival times. In this case, it also gave me peace of mind about my delayed suitcase and let me know where it was every step of the way.
Nobody wants more apps on their phone, but if you fly AC regularly, or any airline with regularity, downloading their app is an idea that pays off.
