Toronto continues to stand out as one of Canada’s most visited and vibrant cities. Travel Pulse Canada
Toronto welcomed a record-breaking 28.2 million visitors in 2025, marking one of the strongest years for tourism in the city’s history. A newly released report shows visitors spent $9.1 billion directly, creating a total economic impact of nearly $13.5 billion across the region.
Spending by visitors increased by four per cent compared with the previous year. More than one-third of that spending came from travellers arriving from the United States and other countries, showing Toronto’s growing global appeal.
“Against a backdrop of shifting trade policies, tariffs and economic uncertainty, Toronto solidified its position as a top global destination,” said Andrew Weir, President and CEO of Destination Toronto.
International travel shows strong growth
International travel recorded the fastest growth in 2025. The city welcomed 1.4 million international visitors, an eight per cent increase from the year before. Travellers from the United Kingdom and Germany led this growth.
Tourism officials credited focused marketing efforts in the U.K., Germany, and Mexico, along with continued promotion in the U.S., for helping attract more global visitors. These efforts will continue as part of a broader plan to support further growth in 2026.
Domestic travel remains the backbone
Canadian travellers continued to make up the largest share of visitors. Domestic travel accounted for 25 million visitors, a three per cent increase from last year.
Experts say more Canadians chose to travel within the country as trips to the United States declined. This shift helped boost tourism activity across Toronto and surrounding areas.
The U.S. remained Toronto’s second-largest visitor market, with 1.9 million travellers. However, that number dropped six per cent compared with 2024.
Toronto’s reach extends beyond the city
Toronto continues to rank as Canada’s most visited city and one of North America’s top urban destinations. Tourism leaders say visitors often extend their trips beyond the city.
“Visitors to Toronto leave a large economic footprint, spending billions of dollars in the city, and then exploring beyond Toronto in destinations like Niagara, Muskoka and Ottawa,” said Weir.
Meetings and events fuel economic impact
Large meetings and events played a major role in the city’s success. Toronto hosted 74 major meetings with more than 1,000 attendees each, welcoming about 378,000 delegates. That marked a 51 per cent increase from the previous year and generated $982 million in economic activity.
“In addition to the direct spending by meeting organizers and attendees, these events also strengthen Toronto's position as a global hub for life sciences, tech, AI or finance,” said Weir.
Several major international meetings and industry gatherings are already confirmed for 2026.
World Cup set to spotlight Toronto in 2026
Tourism leaders now look ahead to 2026, when Toronto will host part of the FIFA World Cup. The city will stage six matches, a fan festival, and city-wide celebrations.
As one of 16 host cities, Toronto will appear on the global stage, with billions of viewers expected worldwide. Officials say the event will further boost tourism and strengthen the city’s international profile.
