Canada’s tourism industry expanded beyond overall GDP growth last year, especially in the fourth quarter, boosted by increased international tourist spending, according to Statistics Canada.
Spending by international tourists grew 3.6% in Q4 2025 compared to the previous quarter, the fastest growth in two years. Despite this, there was an annual decline of 0.7% in international visitor spending from 2024, largely due to lower travel from the U.S., influenced by the U.S.-Canada trade tensions under former President Trump. Canadian visits to the U.S. have fallen significantly since Trump's return to office in January 2025.
Real tourism GDP in Canada grew 1.2% in Q4 2025, up from a 0.9% increase in Q3. Domestic tourism spending by Canadian residents rose 0.5% in the same period, following a 0.2% decrease in Q3, and increased 2.5% annually from 2024.
On a yearly basis, real tourism GDP grew 2.2% in 2025, outpacing the economy-wide real GDP growth of 1.6%.
Domestic tourism efforts include the Canada Strong Pass, offering free access to Parks Canada sites.