Tourism businesses nationwide will have fond memories of the summer of 2025, as tourist spending hit a record high. Canada’s tourism industry raked in a historic $59 billion in revenue between May and August, marking a six percent increase from the previous year. However, there was a slight decline in revenue from American visitors, down by 1.7 percent.
The surge in revenue was mainly driven by domestic tourism, which saw a seven percent increase in spending by Canadians. International tourism revenue remained robust, particularly from overseas markets, showing a 10 percent uptick. These figures were released by Destination Canada, indicating a positive trend as travelers showed eagerness to explore various parts of the country.
Joe Amati, a senior executive director at Destination Canada, noted the growing bookings from both international markets and domestic travelers. He expressed cautious optimism about the momentum carrying forward, with travelers showing a strong desire to visit Canada.
Hotels experienced high occupancy rates during the summer, peaking at 80.7 percent in August, the highest since 2014. Andrew Shepherd, the general manager of the Malcolm Hotel in Canmore, Alberta, highlighted the influx of international and American guests marveling at the beauty of the Rocky Mountains.
Businesses like Crowsnest Adventures, owned by Brent Koinberg, saw a significant uptick in activity, with tours and customers quadrupling compared to the previous year. Koinberg mentioned that about 40 percent of bookings came from international travelers. The report also indicated that 89 percent of regions in Canada posted year-over-year growth, with Atlantic Canada witnessing some of the highest growth rates in the country.