In the first quarter of 2025, Canada’s tourism sector demonstrated contrasting trends, with domestic tourism expenditures increasing by 0.8% to $20.2 billion, while international visitor spending experienced a decline of 2.6%. The tourism sector’s GDP registered a growth of 0.5%, surpassing the overall economy’s growth rate of 0.4%, primarily driven by strong performance in accommodation services (+2.0%) and food and beverage services (+1.0%). Tourism employment figures showed a modest increase to 707,400 positions, constituting 3.30% of Canada’s total employment. This shift toward domestic tourism occurred simultaneously with a significant reduction in Canadian travel to the United States, as overnight trips to the US decreased by 12.2%.
Canadian domestic tourism sees growth as international visits decline in Q1 2025
