Tourism businesses nationwide are celebrating the summer of 2025, as the total spending by tourists hit a historic peak. Canada’s tourism industry set a new revenue record between May and August, totaling $59 billion, marking a six percent rise compared to the previous year. The only setback was a slight decline in revenue from U.S. visitors, dropping by 1.7 percent.
The surge in revenue was mainly driven by domestic tourism, which saw a seven percent increase as Canadians opted to explore their own country. Revenue from international travelers remained robust, notably from overseas markets, showing a 10 percent uptick, according to recent data released by Destination Canada.
During the spring, Destination Canada noticed a growing interest among travelers to explore various parts of the country. Joe Amati, a senior executive director at Destination Canada, expressed optimism about the continuing momentum into the future, with travelers expressing a strong desire to visit Canada.
Hotels experienced high occupancy rates during the summer, with August reaching a peak of 80.7 percent, the highest since 2014. Andrew Shepherd, the general manager of the Malcolm Hotel in Canmore, Alberta, highlighted the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, attracting international and American guests who appreciated the natural wonders.
Despite not finalizing the numbers yet, Shepherd anticipates higher revenue compared to the previous year. Brent Koinberg, owner of Crowsnest Adventures offering guided ATV tours in southwest Alberta, reported a significant boost in business this summer, with a quadruple increase in tours and customers compared to the previous year.
The summer of 2025 brought a positive impact on many businesses, with regions across Canada experiencing growth in tourism revenue. Atlantic Canada particularly stood out with some of the highest growth rates nationwide.
