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Economic Viewpoint

Is Home the New Abroad?

Canada’s Tourism Outlook for 2026

May 20, 2026
Kari Norman
Senior Economist

Highlights

  • After suffering pandemic-era losses, Canada’s tourism sector had fully recovered by 2024, with spending surpassing pre‑pandemic levels and strength broadly shared across major tourism subsectors.
  • In 2025, travel behaviour shifted materially as Canadians sharply reduced travel to the United States and redirected more of their vacation time and money to domestic destinations. Domestic tourism growth in 2025 reflected increases in both activity and spending intensity, with longer stays and higher per‑night spending playing a larger role than trip volumes alone.
  • Early‑2026 indicators suggest domestic travel demand remains firm, supported by strong travel intentions alongside major events such as the FIFA World Cup. The outlook for the rest of 2026 is shaped by opposing forces, with rising fuel costs and Canada–US policy uncertainty posing downside risks, partly offset by persistent domestic travel preferences. Overall, we think Canadian tourism is poised for modest gains in 2026.

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Is Home the New Abroad? (PDF, 409 KB)
NOTE TO READERS: The letters k, M and B are used in texts, graphs and tables to refer to thousands, millions and billions respectively. IMPORTANT: This document is based on public information and may under no circumstances be used or construed as a commitment by Desjardins Group. While the information provided has been determined on the basis of data obtained from sources that are deemed to be reliable, Desjardins Group in no way warrants that the information is accurate or complete. The document is provided solely for information purposes and does not constitute an offer or solicitation for purchase or sale. Desjardins Group takes no responsibility for the consequences of any decision whatsoever made on the basis of the data contained herein and does not hereby undertake to provide any advice, notably in the area of investment services. Data on prices and margins is provided for information purposes and may be modified at any time based on such factors as market conditions. The past performances and projections expressed herein are no guarantee of future performance. Unless otherwise indicated, the opinions and forecasts contained herein are those of the document’s authors and do not represent the opinions of any other person or the official position of Desjardins Group.