Canada’s Tourism Sector Growth Doubled the Broader Economy Last Year

The data is in and the results are clear – tourism was among the fastest growing economic sectors in Canada in 2024. 

Destination Canada shared the details in a 2024 GDP infographic developed in collaboration with Statistics Canada. The tourism promotion agency confirmed that tourism delivers high growth and fast returns, offering one of Canada’s highest growth export opportunities.

Tourism contributed $50.8 billion to Canada’s GDP in 2024, accounting for 1.8% of overall GDP. That’s a 3.6% growth rate (inflation adjusted) from the previous year and more than doubles the national GDP growth rate of 1.7%.

The data also shows that:

• Tourism export revenue is up 7% year on year (inflation adjusted). As Canada’s second-largest services export, tourism continues to contribute more to GDP than some of the largest industrial sectors like mining or automotive manufacturing.

• Tourism sustains more than 265,000 businesses in 5000 communities from coast to coast to coast.

• The number of jobs generated by tourism increased – 1 in 10 workers across the economy are supported by tourism industries.

• Tourism activities generated $129.7 billion in revenues in 2024 – that’s $350 million per day and represents a 3.5% increase (inflation adjusted) from 2023.

• The sector surpassed pre-pandemic revenues for the first time in inflation-adjusted terms.

• International visitors spent $31.1 billion in Canada in 2024, including fares paid to Canadian carriers, up over 7% from the year before.

• Overnight inbound arrivals were up 8.6% over 2023 at 19.9 million, which is still below the pre-pandemic maximum.

• Overnight domestic trips in Canada hit an all-time high of 105.6 million in 2024, up 8.8% over 2023.

In the next five years, the Canadian tourism sector is expected to continue outpacing the Canadian economy, in line with the goals outlined in Destination Canada’s 2030 strategy.