From booming post-pandemic arrivals to a surge in sustainable adventures, the latest statistics reveal Canada's tourism industry isn't just recovering—it's redefining travel with record-breaking momentum.
Key Takeaways
- In 2019, Canada recorded 22.1 million international overnight arrivals, marking a 5.2% increase from 2018.
- In 2022, overnight leisure trips by international visitors to Canada totaled 13.5 million, up 73% from 2021.
- The United States accounted for 11.7 million overnight visitors to Canada in 2019, representing 52.9% of total international arrivals.
- Tourism contributed $105.3 billion to Canada's GDP in 2023, representing 4.8% of total GDP.
- In 2022, tourism employment supported 1.8 million jobs, or 9.3% of total employment.
- International visitor spending reached $24.3 billion in 2023.
- Niagara Falls attracted 12.4 million visitors in 2023.
- Banff National Park saw 4.2 million visitors in 2022.
- Toronto welcomed 28.8 million visitors in 2023, including domestic.
- International tourists spent $27.4 billion in Canada in 2023.
- Average spending per international visitor: $2,380 in 2023.
- Domestic travelers spent $109 billion in 2023.
- In 2023, 75% of international visitors traveled for leisure purposes.
- Sustainable tourism practices adopted by 68% of operators in 2023.
- Digital bookings rose to 82% of total reservations in 2023.
Canada's tourism industry is thriving, approaching pre-pandemic levels with strong economic contributions.
Destination Popularity
1Niagara Falls attracted 12.4 million visitors in 2023.
Verified2Banff National Park saw 4.2 million visitors in 2022.
Verified3Toronto welcomed 28.8 million visitors in 2023, including domestic.
Verified4Vancouver's top attractions drew 10.1 million in 2023.
Directional5CN Tower visits: 1.9 million in 2023.
Single source6Jasper National Park: 2.6 million visitors in 2022.
Verified7Quebec City old town: 5.3 million overnight stays in 2023.
Verified8Niagara-on-the-Lake: 3.7 million visitors annually pre-2020.
Verified9Whistler Blackcomb: 2.2 million skier visits in 2022/23 season.
Directional10Calgary Stampede attendance: 1.3 million in 2023.
Single source11Ottawa's Parliament Hill: 3.1 million visitors in 2023.
Verified12Prince Edward Island beaches: 1.4 million visitors in 2023.
Verified13Gros Morne National Park: 0.2 million visitors in 2022.
Verified14Halifax waterfront: 4.5 million visitors in 2023.
Directional15Yukon Klondike Highway: 0.3 million drive-throughs in 2023.
Single source16Manitoba Churchill polar bears: 8,000 visitors annually.
Verified17Saskatchewan Regina: 1.2 million visitors in 2023.
Verified18Toronto Islands: 1.5 million ferry passengers in 2023.
Verified19Revelstoke Mountain Resort: 0.5 million visits in 2023.
Directional20Cabot Trail Nova Scotia: 0.4 million drivers in 2023.
Single source21Lake Louise: 2.8 million visitors in 2022.
Verified22Montreal Biodome: 0.9 million in 2023.
Verified23Winnipeg Forks Market: 4.0 million in 2023.
Verified24Alberta Drumheller Badlands: 0.5 million in 2023.
Directional25Victoria Butchart Gardens: 1.0 million in 2023.
Single source26Newfoundland Iceberg Alley: 0.1 million cruise viewers in 2023.
Verified27Kelowna Okanagan wineries: 1.2 million tastings in 2023.
Verified28Thunder Bay Sleeping Giant: 0.3 million hikers in 2023.
VerifiedDestination Popularity Interpretation
While Toronto’s 28.8 million visitors confirm our cities are a major draw, the collective pull of our natural wonders—from Niagara’s 12.4 million cascading viewers to Banff’s 4.2 million mountain gazers—proves that Canada’s true brand is beautifully untamed real estate with very good parking.
Economic Impact
1Tourism contributed $105.3 billion to Canada's GDP in 2023, representing 4.8% of total GDP.
Verified2In 2022, tourism employment supported 1.8 million jobs, or 9.3% of total employment.
Verified3International visitor spending reached $24.3 billion in 2023.
Verified4Domestic tourism generated $96.7 billion in GDP contribution in 2023.
Directional5Tourism exports totaled $28.5 billion in 2022.
Single source6In 2019, tourism accounted for $102 billion in GDP, 5.4% share.
Verified7Provincial tourism GDP: Ontario $28.4 billion in 2023.
Verified8BC tourism revenue: $22.1 billion in 2023.
Verified9Quebec tourism GDP: $17.6 billion in 2023.
Directional10Alberta tourism supported 183,000 jobs in 2022.
Single source11Tourism tax revenue: $15.2 billion federally in 2023.
Verified12In 2023, accommodation sector contributed $19.4 billion to GDP.
Verified13Food services in tourism: $24.8 billion GDP in 2023.
Verified14Travel services exports: $12.7 billion in 2022.
Directional15Tourism investment: $8.9 billion in capital expenditures in 2023.
Single source16Manitoba tourism GDP: $2.1 billion in 2023.
Verified17Saskatchewan tourism: 42,000 jobs in 2022.
Verified18Nova Scotia tourism revenue: $3.2 billion in 2023.
Verified19Newfoundland tourism GDP: $1.4 billion in 2023.
Directional20PEI tourism: $0.6 billion GDP, 10% of provincial GDP in 2023.
Single source21New Brunswick tourism jobs: 35,000 in 2023.
Verified22Yukon tourism revenue: $0.4 billion in 2023.
Verified23NWT tourism: $0.3 billion GDP in 2023.
Verified24Nunavut tourism revenue: $0.2 billion in 2023.
Directional25Total tourism labor income: $52.3 billion in 2023.
Single source26Indirect tourism GDP multiplier effect: 1.8 in 2023.
VerifiedEconomic Impact Interpretation
Canada's tourism industry is the economic engine that quietly powers one in ten Canadian paychecks, proving that while Americans may come for the views, they—and more importantly, we—stay for the shopping, dining, and hotels that keep our GDP thoroughly postcard-worthy.
Industry Trends
1In 2023, 75% of international visitors traveled for leisure purposes.
Verified2Sustainable tourism practices adopted by 68% of operators in 2023.
Verified3Digital bookings rose to 82% of total reservations in 2023.
Verified4Post-COVID recovery: 95% of 2019 employment levels by 2024.
Directional5Adventure tourism segment grew 22% year-over-year in 2023.
Single source642% increase in Indigenous tourism experiences booked in 2023.
Verified7Hotel occupancy rate averaged 68% in 2023.
Verified8EV charging stations at tourism sites doubled to 5,000 in 2023.
Verified955% of visitors used mobile apps for planning in 2023.
Directional10Winter tourism resilient with 18% growth in 2022/23.
Single source11Culinary tourism bookings up 30% from 2022.
Verified12Remote work nomads: 12% of long-stay visitors in 2023.
Verified13Carbon offset programs used by 35% of airlines to Canada in 2023.
Verified14Wellness tourism market: $4.5 billion in 2023.
Directional15Group travel recovery: 78% of 2019 levels in 2023.
Single source16AI personalization in recommendations: adopted by 45% sites.
Verified17LGBTQ+ tourism marketing reached 25% more visitors.
Verified18Multi-generational trips: 28% of domestic travel in 2023.
Verified19Glamping sites increased 40% since 2020.
Directional20Birdwatching tourism: 2.1 million participants annually.
Single source21Contactless payments: 92% acceptance in 2023.
Verified22Rural tourism visitation up 25% in 2023.
Verified23VR previews boosted bookings by 15%.
Verified24Solo female travel: 32% of international in 2023.
Directional25Micro-influencer marketing ROI: 3x higher in 2023.
Single source26Stargazing dark sky reserves: 0.8 million visits 2023.
VerifiedIndustry Trends Interpretation
While Canada cleverly pivots towards sustainable and digitally-enhanced adventures, attracting everyone from wellness-seekers to remote-working nomads, it turns out that the true national sport is not hockey, but rather meticulously planning a diverse and resilient comeback tour for the world.
Spending Patterns
1International tourists spent $27.4 billion in Canada in 2023.
Verified2Average spending per international visitor: $2,380 in 2023.
Verified3Domestic travelers spent $109 billion in 2023.
Verified4Accommodation spending by tourists: $21.6 billion in 2023.
Directional5Food and beverage tourist spend: $32.1 billion in 2023.
Single source6Transportation spending in tourism: $28.9 billion in 2023.
Verified7US visitors spent $14.2 billion in Canada in 2023.
Verified8Overseas spending per trip: $3,450 average in 2023.
Verified9Shopping spend by tourists: $12.4 billion in 2023.
Directional10Recreation and entertainment: $15.7 billion tourist spend 2023.
Single source11Ontario tourist spending: $38.5 billion in 2023.
Verified12BC inbound spending: $15.3 billion in 2023.
Verified13Quebec spending: $20.1 billion total tourism in 2023.
Verified14Alberta visitor spend: $9.8 billion in 2023.
Directional15Average hotel room rate: CAD 198/night in 2023.
Single source16Cruise passenger spend: $0.5 billion onshore in 2023.
Verified17Per capita domestic spend: $2,850 in 2023.
Verified18Gaming and gambling tourist spend: $2.3 billion 2023.
Verified19Winter sports spending: $4.1 billion in 2022/23.
Directional20Eco-tourism spend: $6.7 billion in 2023.
Single source21Cultural attractions spend: $8.2 billion in 2023.
Verified22Adventure tourism: $7.5 billion spend 2023.
Verified23Wine tourism spend: $2.9 billion in BC/Ontario 2023.
Verified24Festival attendance spend: $3.4 billion in 2023.
Directional25Airfare average inbound: CAD 850/trip in 2023.
Single source26Car rental tourist spend: $1.8 billion 2023.
Verified27National parks entry fees: $0.15 billion revenue 2023.
Verified28Souvenirs and gifts: $4.6 billion tourist spend 2023.
Verified29Luxury tourism spend growth: 15% in 2023.
DirectionalSpending Patterns Interpretation
While the international guests generously sprinkled $27.4 billion across the country, it’s the homegrown adventurers who truly bankrolled the party, splurging a massive $109 billion proving that sometimes the best way to see Canada is simply to never leave.
Visitor Statistics
1In 2019, Canada recorded 22.1 million international overnight arrivals, marking a 5.2% increase from 2018.
Verified2In 2022, overnight leisure trips by international visitors to Canada totaled 13.5 million, up 73% from 2021.
Verified3The United States accounted for 11.7 million overnight visitors to Canada in 2019, representing 52.9% of total international arrivals.
Verified4Overseas visitors to Canada numbered 9.2 million in 2022, a recovery to 73% of 2019 levels.
Directional5In Q4 2023, Canada saw 6.4 million international air arrivals, surpassing 2019 figures by 2%.
Single source6France was the top European source market with 1.1 million visitors to Canada in 2019.
Verified7In 2023, total international visitor arrivals reached 19.8 million, 89.5% of pre-pandemic levels.
Verified8Air transport accounted for 62% of international arrivals to Canada in 2022.
Verified9Mexico sent 1.4 million tourists to Canada in 2023, a 25% increase from 2022.
Directional10In 2019, the UK contributed 1.0 million overnight leisure visitors to Canada.
Single source11Canada welcomed 2.3 million visitors from Asia-Pacific in 2022, recovering 65% from 2019.
Verified12Germany ranked as the 3rd largest European market with 0.8 million visitors in 2019.
Verified13In 2023, same-day auto arrivals from the US totaled 8.2 million.
Verified14Australia provided 0.4 million tourists to Canada in 2019.
Directional15Q1 2024 saw 4.7 million international visitors, up 12% year-over-year.
Single source16India emerged as a top growth market with 0.6 million visitors in 2023.
Verified17In 2022, total border crossings by non-residents reached 49.6 million.
Verified18Netherlands visitors numbered 0.3 million in 2019.
Verified192023 cruise passenger arrivals hit 2.1 million, 105% of 2019.
Directional20South Korea sent 0.5 million tourists in 2019.
Single source21In 2023, Europe represented 22% of Canada's international visitors.
Verified22Brazil contributed 0.2 million visitors in 2019.
Verified23January 2024 air arrivals: 1.8 million international.
Verified24Japan visitors totaled 0.4 million in 2019.
Directional252022 overnight auto trips from US: 4.1 million.
Single source26China pre-pandemic peak: 1.2 million in 2019.
Verified27Italy sent 0.3 million tourists in 2019.
Verified282023 total US visitors: 12.5 million overnight.
Verified29Switzerland: 0.2 million in 2019.
Directional302024 projection: 25 million international arrivals.
Single sourceVisitor Statistics Interpretation
Canada is steadily reclaiming its pre-pandemic mojo, with international visitors flocking back at a brisk pace, yet while our European, Asian, and other overseas friends are still cautiously re-engaging, our ever-dependable and car-loving American neighbors continue to be the backbone of our tourism industry.
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