Canadian tourism is on the rise, with new data showing a 30 per cent increase as more Canadians opted to vacation at home this year rather than travel south of the border.
According to a survey by Angus Reid commissioned by Moneris, more than a quarter of Canadians changed or cancelled U.S. travel plans, citing political tensions and tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Instead, many chose to explore their own province or visit other parts of Canada, giving a major boost to the domestic tourism industry.
Moneris reports that interprovincial spending rose five per cent year-over-year, with the territories seeing a 10 per cent jump, Alberta up nine per cent, and Saskatchewan up six per cent. “Domestic tourism as a spending vehicle to drive the economy is enormous,” said Sean McCormick, director of Business Development of Data Services at Moneris.
Hotels, restaurants, and attractions across the country have benefited from this shift, injecting millions of dollars a day into the Canadian economy. Moira A. McDonald, tourism expert and professor at Royal Roads University, called the surge “great news” and praised Canadians for supporting local businesses.
The report also notes that while domestic travel saw a boom, international trips to Mexico, South America, and Europe also rose — but cross-border travel to the U.S. has now declined for seven consecutive months.
Until tensions between Ottawa and Washington cool, experts predict Canadians will continue choosing local adventures over U.S. getaways — a trend welcomed by Canada’s tourism sector, which is now recruiting skilled workers to meet rising demand.