Canada’s tourism industry isn't just a scenic backdrop—it's a $128.4 billion economic powerhouse that powered 1.87 million jobs in 2023 alone.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Canada's tourism industry generated $128.4 billion in total economic output, representing 6.6% of national GDP
- Tourism direct GDP contribution in Canada reached $49.2 billion in 2023, up 15% from 2022
- Employment in Canada's tourism sector totaled 1.87 million jobs in 2023, accounting for 9.4% of total employment
- Canada welcomed 20.4 million international overnight visitors in 2023, up 34% from 2022
- US visitors to Canada numbered 12.8 million in 2023, representing 62% of total international arrivals
- Overseas visitors to Canada reached 5.1 million in 2023, a 52% increase YoY
- Hotel room occupancy rate averaged 68% across Canada in 2023
- Total hotel rooms in Canada numbered 378,000 in 2023
- Average daily rate (ADR) for hotels was CAD 192 in 2023, up 8% YoY
- Canada air passenger traffic reached 164 million in 2023, up 22% YoY
- Toronto Pearson Airport handled 45.2 million passengers in 2023
- Vancouver International Airport 26.8 million passengers in 2023
- Adventure tourism bookings surged 28% in 2023 to 15.6 million participants
- National parks visitation totaled 29.1 million in 2023
- Niagara Falls attraction visits 13.2 million in 2023
Canada's tourism industry surged in 2023, generating massive revenue and record employment.
Accommodation Sector
- Hotel room occupancy rate averaged 68% across Canada in 2023
- Total hotel rooms in Canada numbered 378,000 in 2023
- Average daily rate (ADR) for hotels was CAD 192 in 2023, up 8% YoY
- Revenue per available room (RevPAR) reached CAD 131 in 2023
- Toronto hotel occupancy 72% in 2023
- Vancouver ADR CAD 245 in 2023
- Airbnb listings grew to 125,000 active in Canada in 2023
- Short-term rental revenue $3.2 billion in 2023
- Campgrounds and RV sites saw 15.2 million stays in 2023
- Luxury hotel segment grew 12% in occupancy to 75% in 2023
- Budget hotels ADR CAD 135 in 2023
- Midscale hotels dominated with 45% market share in 2023
- Banff/Lake Louise hotels 85% occupancy peak season 2023
- Quebec City heritage hotels ADR CAD 210 in 2023
- Calgary hotels recovered to 65% occupancy post-Stampede 2023
- Ottawa government hotels 70% occupancy in 2023
- Halifax waterfront hotels ADR CAD 185 in 2023
- Resort properties RevPAR CAD 250 in 2023
- Eco-lodges increased 18% in bookings in 2023
- Timeshare and condo hotels 8% market growth in 2023
- Food and beverage revenue in hotels $12.4 billion in 2023
- Conference centers hosted 2.1 million delegate days in 2023
Accommodation Sector Interpretation
Despite a robust 68% national occupancy and soaring luxury rates, the Canadian travel scene reveals a delightfully fragmented character, where a splurge on a Banff suite, a night in a Halifax heritage inn, a trendy eco-lodge stay, a budget motel, a campsite under the stars, and a downtown Airbnb are all vigorously competing for the same traveler's wallet—and appetite, given that $12.4 billion was spent just on hotel meals.
Attractions and Activities
- Adventure tourism bookings surged 28% in 2023 to 15.6 million participants
- National parks visitation totaled 29.1 million in 2023
- Niagara Falls attraction visits 13.2 million in 2023
- CN Tower tickets sold 1.8 million in 2023
- Banff Gondola rides 450,000 in 2023
- Whistler Blackcomb ski visits 2.1 million in 2023 season
- Rocky Mountaineer train scenic trips 28,000 passengers 2023
- Polar bear tours in Churchill 12,500 visitors in 2023
- Aurora viewing tours 180,000 participants in 2023
- Whale watching trips 250,000 in BC waters 2023
- Cultural festivals drew 45 million attendees in 2023
- Calgary Stampede visitors 1.2 million in 2023
- Toronto International Film Festival 500,000 attendees 2023
- Montreal Jazz Festival 2.3 million visitors 2023
- Indigenous cultural experiences 3.4 million in 2023
- Wine tours in Okanagan 850,000 visitors 2023
- Golf rounds played by tourists 12.5 million in 2023
- Fishing licenses issued to tourists 1.1 million in 2023
- Hiking trail users in parks 18.7 million in 2023
- Canoeing and kayaking rentals 950,000 in 2023
Attractions and Activities Interpretation
Evidently, Canada’s 2023 tourism numbers reveal a nation where over fifteen million adventurers are willingly trading their creature comforts for a chance to be awed, chilled, and possibly nibbled by nature, all while another forty-five million prove that culture—from cinematic masterpieces to grape-stomping festivities—can be just as thrilling as any grizzly bear.
Economic Impact
- In 2023, Canada's tourism industry generated $128.4 billion in total economic output, representing 6.6% of national GDP
- Tourism direct GDP contribution in Canada reached $49.2 billion in 2023, up 15% from 2022
- Employment in Canada's tourism sector totaled 1.87 million jobs in 2023, accounting for 9.4% of total employment
- International visitor spending in Canada was $27.5 billion in 2023, a 24% increase year-over-year
- Domestic tourism spending contributed $92.1 billion to Canada's economy in 2023
- Tourism exports from Canada hit $22.8 billion in 2023, driven by overseas markets
- The accommodation and food services subsector added $38.7 billion to GDP in 2023
- Travel trade surplus for Canada was $11.2 billion in 2023 due to inbound tourism
- Quebec's tourism GDP contribution was $15.3 billion in 2023, 7.8% of provincial GDP
- British Columbia tourism generated $23.1 billion in GDP impact in 2023
- Ontario's tourism sector output reached $36.4 billion in 2023
- Alberta tourism economic impact was $11.8 billion in 2023
- Tourism multiplier effect in Canada was 1.8 for every dollar spent in 2023
- Investment in tourism infrastructure totaled $4.2 billion in Canada in 2023
- Tax revenue from tourism reached $24.6 billion federally and provincially in 2023
- Newfoundland and Labrador tourism GDP was $1.9 billion in 2023
- Manitoba tourism economic output $3.4 billion in 2023
- Saskatchewan tourism contributed $2.7 billion to GDP in 2023
- Nova Scotia tourism GDP impact $3.1 billion in 2023
- Prince Edward Island tourism generated $0.6 billion in 2023
- New Brunswick tourism economic impact $2.2 billion in 2023
- Yukon tourism GDP $0.4 billion in 2023
- Northwest Territories tourism output $0.3 billion in 2023
- Nunavut tourism economic impact $0.2 billion in 2023
- Winter tourism GDP contribution $28.5 billion in 2023
- Summer tourism output $65.2 billion in 2023
- Shoulder season tourism $34.7 billion in 2023
- Adventure tourism subsector $18.9 billion GDP in 2023
- Cultural tourism economic impact $22.4 billion in 2023
Economic Impact Interpretation
Canada’s tourism industry isn't just a scenic postcard—it’s a colossal economic engine, fueling one in ten jobs and generating a travel trade surplus, all while proving that from coast to coast to coast, adventure and culture are serious business.
Transportation
- Canada air passenger traffic reached 164 million in 2023, up 22% YoY
- Toronto Pearson Airport handled 45.2 million passengers in 2023
- Vancouver International Airport 26.8 million passengers in 2023
- Montreal-Trudeau Airport 21.1 million in 2023
- Calgary Airport 18.4 million passengers in 2023
- Domestic air travel 112 million passengers in 2023
- Transborder air passengers 38 million in 2023
- International air arrivals 14 million in 2023
- Average flight load factor 82% in Canadian airlines 2023
- WestJet carried 25.6 million passengers in 2023
- Air Canada 50.2 million passengers in 2023
- VIA Rail transported 4.7 million passengers in 2023
- High-speed rail demand projected but Amtrak to Montreal 1.2 million
- Road trips accounted for 75% of domestic travel in 2023
- Rental car revenue $5.8 billion in 2023
- Cruise passengers to Canada 2.9 million in 2023
- Port of Vancouver cruise calls 325 in 2023
- Ferry passengers BC Ferries 22.1 million in 2023
- Electric vehicle rentals up 45% in tourism hotspots 2023
- Bike-sharing trips 12.4 million in major cities 2023
- Public transit ridership in tourism cities 1.2 billion trips 2023
- Tofino cruise tender passengers 150,000 in 2023
- Jasper shuttle services carried 450,000 in 2023
Transportation Interpretation
In a nation where the skies are once again packed—with Air Canada alone shepherding over 50 million souls and domestic roads claiming three-quarters of the wanderlust—the story of 2023 is a cacophony of wheels, wings, and propellers, proving that whether by land, sea, or air, Canadians and their guests are passionately, and sometimes electrically, finding their way back to movement.
Visitor Statistics
- Canada welcomed 20.4 million international overnight visitors in 2023, up 34% from 2022
- US visitors to Canada numbered 12.8 million in 2023, representing 62% of total international arrivals
- Overseas visitors to Canada reached 5.1 million in 2023, a 52% increase YoY
- Average length of stay for international visitors was 14.2 nights in 2023
- 55% of international visitors to Canada were from Europe in 2023
- Asia-Pacific visitors totaled 2.3 million in 2023, 11% of total
- Mexico accounted for 0.9 million visitors to Canada in 2023
- Repeat visitors made up 42% of international arrivals in 2023
- 68% of visitors traveled for leisure in 2023
- Business travelers numbered 3.2 million international in 2023
- VFR (visiting friends and relatives) trips totaled 4.1 million in 2023
- Toronto welcomed 9.2 million visitors in 2023
- Vancouver international arrivals 6.8 million in 2023
- Montreal visitor numbers 8.1 million in 2023
- Niagara Falls region saw 14.5 million visitors in 2023
- Banff National Park had 4.2 million visitors in 2023
- Average age of international visitors was 45 years in 2023
- 52% of visitors were female in 2023
- Families represented 28% of travel parties in 2023
- Millennials (25-40) comprised 35% of visitors in 2023
- Domestic trips totaled 432 million in 2023
- Overnight domestic trips 157 million in 2023
- Same-day domestic trips 275 million in 2023
Visitor Statistics Interpretation
Clearly, the world has decided Canada is the place to be, whether for a two-week European escape into our wilderness, a quick American getaway next door, or simply because 42% of you liked it so much the first time you forgot to go home.
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