Canada is roaring back on the world stage, with international visitor arrivals hitting 16.5 million in 2023 and our own domestic travellers exploring from coast to coast to coast in record numbers.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Canada recorded 16.5 million international visitor arrivals, marking a 75% recovery from 2019 levels
- The United States accounted for 12.3 million overnight trips to Canada in 2023, representing 74.5% of all international visitors
- Overseas visitors to Canada numbered 4.2 million in 2023, up 98% from 2022, with the United Kingdom leading at 682,000 arrivals
- In 2023, 15 million Canadians took domestic trips, averaging 4.2 trips per person
- Domestic tourism spending reached CAD 88 billion in 2023, up 12% from 2022
- Ontario hosted 5.8 million domestic overnight trips in 2023
- Canada's tourism sector contributed CAD 105.4 billion to GDP in 2023, or 4.5% of national GDP
- Tourism employment stood at 924,000 jobs in 2023, representing 4.9% of total employment
- Total tourism spending by visitors reached CAD 126.7 billion in 2023, up 25% from 2022
- Niagara Falls welcomed 12.5 million visitors in 2023, 14 million CAD in ticket sales
- Banff National Park had 4.1 million visitors, CAD 850 million economic impact
- Vancouver saw 10.3 million visitors, convention centre hosting 1.2 million delegates
- Tourism employment grew 6.2% to 924,000 jobs in 2023
- Accommodation and food services employed 58% of tourism workforce, 536,000 jobs
- Full-time tourism jobs averaged CAD 52,400 annual wage in 2023
Canada's tourism is growing robustly, nearing pre-pandemic levels for international and domestic visitors.
Destination-Specific Statistics
1Niagara Falls welcomed 12.5 million visitors in 2023, 14 million CAD in ticket sales
Verified2Banff National Park had 4.1 million visitors, CAD 850 million economic impact
Verified3Vancouver saw 10.3 million visitors, convention centre hosting 1.2 million delegates
Verified4Toronto attracted 28.8 million visitors, CN Tower 2.1 million climbs
Directional5Montreal hosted 11.4 million tourists, Jazz Festival 2.3 million attendees
Single source6Whistler Blackcomb recorded 2.2 million skier visits in 2023/24 season
Verified7Jasper National Park: 2.7 million visitors, Icefields Parkway 1.1 million drives
Verified8Quebec City drew 4.6 million, Chateau Frontenac 1.4 million stays
Verified9Calgary Stampede attracted 1.2 million, CAD 540 million impact
Directional10Ottawa's Rideau Canal skated by 1 million in winter 2023, total visitors 9.2 million
Single source11Prince Edward Island's green shores saw 1.6 million beach days
Verified12Churchill, Manitoba polar bear tours: 12,000 visitors, 95% international
Verified13Yukon Klondike Highway: 450,000 vehicle crossings, Dawson City 85,000 visits
Verified14Cape Breton Highlands: 650,000 hikers on Cabot Trail
Directional15Lake Louise: 3.2 million visitors, gondola rides 800,000
Single source16Gros Morne National Park: 220,000 visitors, UNESCO tablelands 95,000
Verified17Revelstoke Mountain Resort: 750,000 skier days, North America’s longest vertical
Verified18Hopewell Rocks, NB: 450,000 low-tide visitors annually
Verified19Stanley Park, Vancouver: 8 million visitors, seawall 10 million km walked
Directional20Algonquin Park: 1.1 million campers, 2,400 km canoe routes paddled
Single source21Victoria's Butchart Gardens: 1 million international, total 2 million visits
VerifiedDestination-Specific Statistics Interpretation
Canada's tourism story is a tale of two economies: Niagara Falls sells 12.5 million people a ticket to look at water, while Banff quietly hosts a third as many visitors who spend enough to buy a small, very scenic country.
Domestic Tourism Statistics
1In 2023, 15 million Canadians took domestic trips, averaging 4.2 trips per person
Verified2Domestic tourism spending reached CAD 88 billion in 2023, up 12% from 2022
Verified3Ontario hosted 5.8 million domestic overnight trips in 2023
Verified4British Columbia saw 4.2 million domestic visitors, with Vancouver at 2.1 million stays
Directional5Quebec's domestic tourism hit 3.9 million trips, led by Montreal's 1.7 million
Single source6Alberta welcomed 2.8 million domestic tourists, Banff-Lake Louise at 1.4 million
Verified7In 2023, 2.1 million domestic trips to Nova Scotia, up 15% YoY
Verified8Manitoba's domestic visitors numbered 1.2 million, Winnipeg 650,000
Verified9Saskatchewan saw 1.1 million domestic trips, focusing on rural areas
Directional10New Brunswick hosted 950,000 domestic tourists, Bay of Fundy key draw
Single source11Prince Edward Island had 820,000 domestic visitors in 2023
Verified12Newfoundland and Labrador recorded 710,000 domestic trips
Verified13Yukon Territory saw 180,000 domestic tourists, Whitehorse 120,000
Verified14Northwest Territories welcomed 65,000 domestic visitors, Yellowknife 45,000
Directional15Nunavut's domestic tourism reached 22,000 trips, Iqaluit primary hub
Single source16Road trips accounted for 68% of domestic travel in 2023, totaling 10.2 million vehicles
Verified17Camping and RV travel surged 22% to 3.4 million domestic trips
Verified1842% of Canadians traveled domestically for family visits in 2023
Verified19Beach vacations drew 28% of domestic tourists to Atlantic provinces
Directional20National parks received 15.2 million domestic visits in 2023, Banff top at 4.1 million
Single source21Winter domestic travel to ski resorts hit 2.8 million trips, Whistler-Blackcomb leading
Verified22Urban domestic tourism grew 18% to 7.5 million trips to top 10 cities
Verified23Indigenous tourism experiences attracted 1.9 million domestic visitors
Verified24Culinary tourism drove 1.6 million domestic trips, focusing on farm-to-table
Directional25Adventure domestic travel reached 2.4 million, hiking top activity
Single sourceDomestic Tourism Statistics Interpretation
It seems Canadians, in a masterclass of patriotic procrastination, have collectively decided that the best way to avoid fixing the backyard deck is to instead drive 4.2 times each to a different province to spend $88 billion staring at other people’s backyards, mountains, and poutines.
Economic and Financial Statistics
1Canada's tourism sector contributed CAD 105.4 billion to GDP in 2023, or 4.5% of national GDP
Verified2Tourism employment stood at 924,000 jobs in 2023, representing 4.9% of total employment
Verified3Total tourism spending by visitors reached CAD 126.7 billion in 2023, up 25% from 2022
Verified4International visitor spending totaled CAD 28.5 billion in 2023, with average spend per trip at CAD 1,720
Directional5Domestic spending dominated at CAD 98.2 billion, 78% of total tourism expenditures
Single source6Accommodation sector generated CAD 18.9 billion in revenue, hotels 72% share
Verified7Food and beverage services earned CAD 32.4 billion from tourists in 2023
Verified8Transportation tourism revenue hit CAD 25.6 billion, air travel 55%
Verified9Recreation and entertainment added CAD 21.3 billion to tourism economy
Directional10Retail trade from tourists contributed CAD 28.5 billion in 2023
Single source11Tourism taxes generated CAD 12.4 billion for governments in 2023
Verified12Investment in tourism infrastructure reached CAD 8.7 billion in 2023
Verified13Ontario's tourism GDP was CAD 28.6 billion, 27% of national total
Verified14Quebec tourism contributed CAD 17.2 billion to GDP
Directional15British Columbia's tourism revenue totaled CAD 22.1 billion in 2023
Single source16Alberta generated CAD 11.4 billion from tourism, oil-tourism synergy
Verified17Average daily spending by tourists was CAD 285 in 2023
Verified18Tourism export value stood at CAD 31.2 billion, ranking 8th globally
Verified19Multiplier effect of tourism spending was 1.8, generating CAD 1.8 in GDP per CAD spent
Directional2065% of tourism GDP from indirect and induced effects in 2023
Single source21Female employment in tourism was 52% of total jobs in 2023
Verified22Indigenous-owned tourism businesses numbered 2,400, contributing CAD 1.9 billion
VerifiedEconomic and Financial Statistics Interpretation
Despite nearly bankrupting me with that $285-a-day souvenir habit, Canada's tourism industry is no mere postcard business, but a $105-billion economic engine employing nearly a million people and proving that while we politely visit each other from coast to coast, the world also drops in to spend serious cash.
Industry and Employment Statistics
1Tourism employment grew 6.2% to 924,000 jobs in 2023
Verified2Accommodation and food services employed 58% of tourism workforce, 536,000 jobs
Verified3Full-time tourism jobs averaged CAD 52,400 annual wage in 2023
Verified4Youth employment in tourism: 22% of jobs, 203,000 aged 15-24
Directional5Indigenous workforce in tourism: 5.2%, 48,000 employees
Single source612,500 tourism businesses new starts in 2023
Verified7Hotel occupancy rate averaged 68% nationally in 2023, Toronto 72%
Verified8Average daily rate (ADR) for hotels rose to CAD 192, up 9.2%
Verified9Revenue per available room (RevPAR) hit CAD 131, Vancouver leading at CAD 168
Directional10Cruise tourism: 1,500 voyages, 2.1 million passengers, CAD 320 million spend
Single source11Ski resorts employed 45,000 seasonal workers, 75% Canadian
Verified12Tour operators numbered 8,200, generating CAD 4.2 billion revenue
Verified1375% of tourism businesses report sustainability practices adopted in 2023
Verified14Digital booking platforms handled 62% of reservations, up 15%
Directional15Labour shortage affected 42% of tourism operators, 120,000 vacancies
Single source16Training programs graduated 15,000 new tourism workers via TIAP funding
Verified17Event planners hosted 12,400 conventions, 4.5 million delegates
Verified18Adventure tourism operators: 3,200 firms, 1.2 million guided trips
Verified19Agri-tourism farms: 2,100 open to public, 850,000 visitors, CAD 145 million sales
DirectionalIndustry and Employment Statistics Interpretation
Canada’s tourism sector is serving up a remarkable comeback—with nearly a million jobs, a wave of new businesses, and travelers happily paying higher hotel rates—yet behind the bustling lobbies and packed ski hills, the industry is still urgently hunting for workers and racing to keep its sustainability promises.
International Tourism Statistics
1In 2023, Canada recorded 16.5 million international visitor arrivals, marking a 75% recovery from 2019 levels
Verified2The United States accounted for 12.3 million overnight trips to Canada in 2023, representing 74.5% of all international visitors
Verified3Overseas visitors to Canada numbered 4.2 million in 2023, up 98% from 2022, with the United Kingdom leading at 682,000 arrivals
Verified4France sent 512,000 tourists to Canada in 2023, a 112% increase year-over-year, focusing on Quebec destinations
Directional5In Q4 2023, air arrivals from Europe to Canada reached 1.1 million, driven by seasonal ski tourism
Single source6Mexico contributed 389,000 visitors to Canada in 2023 via air, primarily to British Columbia and Ontario
Verified7Germany's 312,000 tourists to Canada in 2023 spent an average of CAD 1,850 per trip
Verified8Australia saw 278,000 arrivals to Canada in 2023, with a 45% increase in adventure tourism bookings
Verified9In 2023, South Korea's visitors to Canada hit 192,000, boosted by K-pop cultural exchanges
Directional10India's tourist arrivals to Canada grew to 156,000 in 2023, up 89% from 2022
Single source11Japan sent 134,000 visitors to Canada in 2023, with Vancouver as the top entry point at 62%
Verified12In 2023, Brazil's 98,000 tourists favored Alberta's Rockies, spending CAD 2,100 on average
Verified13China's pre-COVID recovery saw 87,000 visitors in 2023, limited by visa processing times
Verified14Netherlands contributed 76,000 tourists in 2023, with 40% visiting multiple provinces
Directional15Italy's 72,000 arrivals in 2023 focused on cultural sites in Ontario and Quebec
Single source16Sweden sent 54,000 visitors, emphasizing eco-tourism in British Columbia
Verified17In 2023, Switzerland's 52,000 tourists averaged 14 nights per stay in Canada
Verified18Norway's 48,000 visitors in 2023 increased aurora borealis tours by 30%
Verified19Spain contributed 45,000 tourists, with Barcelona flights direct to Toronto rising 25%
Directional20Belgium's 42,000 arrivals favored Montreal's festivals
Single source21In 2023, 38,000 tourists from Ireland visited, up 65% post-Brexit travel ease
Verified22Denmark sent 36,000 visitors, focusing on Yukon wilderness
Verified23Austria's 34,000 tourists in 2023 spent on winter sports in the Alps-like Banff
Verified24Finland contributed 32,000 visitors, drawn to Indigenous experiences
Directional25Poland's 28,000 arrivals marked a 120% growth
Single source26In 2023, Portugal sent 26,000 tourists to Canada's coastal areas
Verified27Greece's 24,000 visitors focused on urban explorations in Vancouver
Verified28Turkey contributed 22,000 tourists in 2023, up from niche markets
Verified29Russia's visitors dropped to 18,000 due to geopolitical tensions
DirectionalInternational Tourism Statistics Interpretation
While our southern neighbors remain our loyal, if not slightly over-represented, fan club, the world is finally returning for an encore—with the Brits leading a European charge for our slopes and culture, while newer fans from Asia and Latin America arrive ready to spend, proving Canada’s appeal is now a truly global, and lucrative, phenomenon.
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