Canada is on course for a banner year of tourism with growth stretching well into the next decade.
Destination Canada’s Canadian Tourism Outlook 2026 to 2035 forecasts visitor spending will expand by six per cent this year, reaching $140.9 billion.
Total tourism revenue is projected to hit $216.3 billion by 2035, up 67 per cent from 2024 levels.
Australia is one of nine key overseas markets identified by Destination Canada as the sector’s export acceleration engine, with international arrivals forecast to grow at 9.8 per cent annually through 2035, roughly double the pace of the U.S. market.
Marsha Walden, Destination Canada President and CEO, said the opportunity for Canada had never been greater.
“Tourism is a high-growth export with fast returns. The Canadian Tourism Outlook shows demand is accelerating and the opportunity for Canada is even greater if we grow global market share and continue attracting more international demand,” Ms Walden said.
The growth is being driven by a combination of factors. Canadians are increasingly choosing to holiday at home, with re-shored spending expected to add $4.4 billion between 2025 and 2027.
Overseas markets are diversifying Canada’s demand base across seasons and sources, bringing fresh spending into local communities.
Tourism already supports one in 10 Canadian jobs, injects more than $364 million daily into communities across the country and returned $32.7 billion in tax revenue in 2024.
Canada’s global reputation is also working in its favour, ranking first in the RepCore Nations 2025 index alongside Switzerland and third in the Anholt Nation Brand Index, giving travellers confidence in the destination at a time when stability and openness are increasingly valued.
