Destination Canada announced the release of the year end data on tourist arrivals to Canada. Almost 20 million travellers came to explore Canada from coast to coast to coast in 2016. This marks the highest arrivals in 14 years—and is just short of the best year on record, 2002.
David F. Goldstein, President and CEO, Destination Canada, said, “I want to acknowledge that we have achieved these results by working together across the tourism industry: from the Government of Canada to our partners in the provinces, territories, cities, and the tourism industry. A united approach to showing the world the best of Canada works, and I’m looking forward to working with you this year to build on these great results. Thank you all for supporting the growth of Canadian tourism.”
Key Highlights
• 2016 was best year for Canadian tourism in 14 years with 19,977,285 arrivals, only 0.4% below the record set in 2002.
• Total arrivals grew by 11% in 2016, which is the fastest year-over-year growth in 20 years.
• Arrivals from Destination Canada’s 10 overseas markets grew 16% over 2015 levels.
• We set new records for travellers from South Korea, China, Australia, India, France and Brazil.
• An extra 670,740 US travellers arrived by air in 2016 setting a new record for US air arrivals, a 17% increase over 2015.
