Last year, the tourism sector in Canada expanded at twice the rate of the overall economy.

VANCOUVER, BC, July 24, 2025 – The available data paints a clear picture. The , developed through a partnership with , affirms that tourism generates substantial growth and rapid returns, positioning it as one of Canada’s most promising export opportunities for expansion.

During 2024, tourism ranked among the sectors with the most rapid growth, contributing $50.8 billion to Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which constituted 1.8% of the total GDP. This represents an inflation-adjusted growth rate of 3.6% compared to the prior year, surpassing the national GDP growth rate of 1.7%.

Furthermore, the data indicates:

• Tourism export revenue saw a 7% year-over-year increase (adjusted for inflation). As Canada’s second-biggest services export, tourism consistently adds more to the GDP than major industrial sectors such as mining or automotive manufacturing.
• More than 265,000 businesses in 5,000 communities across Canada are supported by tourism.
• The employment figures created by tourism saw an uptick – with one in every ten workers in the broader economy supported by tourism-related industries.
• Tourism activities produced $129.7 billion in revenues in 2024 – equating to $350 million daily and marking an inflation-adjusted 3.5% rise from 2023.

Over the coming five years, the Canadian tourism sector is projected to maintain its superior growth trajectory compared to the broader Canadian economy, aligning with the objectives set forth in.

Additional information regarding tourism’s contribution to Canada in 2024, including the complete infographic, is currently accessible on the acclaimed .

B-Roll footage is available .

About Destination Canada
At Destination Canada, our conviction is that tourism improves the prosperity and welfare of Canadians while enriching the experiences of visitors. Our objective is to shape supply and stimulate demand for the advantage of residents, communities, and tourists, achieved through cutting-edge research, collaboration with both public and private sectors, and promoting Canada domestically and internationally.

Tourism injects $130 billion into the Canadian economy. This amounts to over $350 million daily in revenue, supported by 265,000 businesses across 5,000 communities nationwide. Destination Canada’s initiatives transform public funding into spending by international visitors within the same fiscal year—generating employment, GDP, and tax revenues almost instantly. Each dollar committed to Destination Canada yields a verifiable financial benefit for Canadian enterprises, employees, communities, and governing bodies.

Recognizing diversity as our prime strength, we champion Canada as a leading four-season destination for both leisure and business tourism across the nation and globally in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Furthermore, our Business Events division leverages global intelligence to identify and draw international events that correspond with Canada’s key economic industries.

Destination Canada operates as a Crown corporation, entirely owned by the Government of Canada.

SOURCE Destination Canada