Quidi Vidi, a small historic fishing village in St. John’s, Newfoundland, is known for its charm and is locally pronounced “kiddy vidi.” (Photo credit: TravelPulse Canada)
Travel across Canada grew strongly in early 2025, with Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan seeing the biggest jumps. Bookings in these provinces rose more than 20 per cent compared with last year.
Airbnb says most Canadian trips already happen within the country. But this growth shows more Canadians are choosing to stay close to home while still seeking fresh experiences.
“Canadians are continuing to explore their own country, and that’s delivering real economic benefits for hosts, small businesses, and communities nationwide,” said Hannah Parish, Airbnb’s country manager for Canada. “Domestic travel is becoming a lasting part of our identity.”
Sports and Events Draw Visitors
Newfoundland and Labrador gained extra attention thanks to the Canada Summer Games, held August 9–24. The event brought in more than 4,000 athletes, plus thousands of fans, boosting the province’s hotels, restaurants, and attractions.
Smaller towns and rural communities also welcomed more travellers this year. Families and groups are showing stronger interest in nature-focused trips and regional culture.
Tourism Spending Keeps Climbing
New data shows Canadians spent $21.3 billion on tourism in the first three months of 2025. That’s up from the final quarter of 2024. Much of the increase came from accommodation, food and drink, and shopping.
Local businesses saw steady benefits as more people visited destinations across the country.
More Jobs for Workers
Tourism jobs grew in July 2025. The industry added about 80,000 positions, a rise of 3.7 per cent from June. Employment was also up compared with July 2024.
Unemployment rates stayed low in key provinces. Newfoundland and Labrador recorded 5.3 per cent, P.E.I. stood at 3.2 per cent, and Saskatchewan sat at 2.6 per cent. These numbers show tourism is providing steady work during a time of economic uncertainty.
“Given the strong economic headwinds facing the economy and the decrease in visitors from the United States, domestic interest in travel seems to be enough to sustain the demand side of the equation, at least for the time being,” noted Tourism HR Canada.
Canadians Look Abroad Too
Canadians are not only travelling at home. Bookings to destinations outside the U.S. also climbed compared with last year.
Japan, Brazil, the Philippines, France, Thailand, and Mexico all saw stronger demand. Popular areas included Tokyo’s Sumida and Naniwa wards, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Casablanca, Paris, and beach resorts in Los Cabos and Bahia de Banderas.
Looking Ahead
The first half of 2025 suggests a strong year for Canadian tourism. With Canadians travelling more both at home and abroad, the industry continues to support jobs, communities, and local economies.Newfoundland, P.E.I., Quebec, Saskatchewan Drive Surge in Canada’s Travel Growth
