Latest News

According to this survey, Canadians are spending large this summer

Sky-high costs and ongoing economic pressures aren’t dampening the mood this summer season.

According to the 2024 summer travel outlook: Canadian destinations in the spotlight, Canadians are eagerly making travel plans and are ready to get away and make up for missed travel time.

Overall, consumers plan to spend an average of $2,405 on transportation and lodging costs for their major summer trip, with three in four (74 per cent) planning to stay in the country and experience the very best it has to offer.

Canadian travel trends revealed

The report explores the travel trends of Canadians as they prepare for the summer travel season, and their impact on the tourism sector in Canada. Some of the key findings include:

  • Travellers from Central Canada (Ontario and Quebec) will spend more than those from the rest of the country ($2,459 on average).
  • Around three in four Canadians (74%) plan to stay in the country for their big summer vacation—and most plan to stay within their home region rather than make long treks.
  • The ‘shop small and local’ trend continues to shape tourism across Canada: Canadians want to support local, independent, and family-owned businesses (79%) rather than chains, multinationals, big box retailers, and large corporations (21%).
  • Prince Edward Island is expected to see the largest share of visitors from outside its region, with 78 per cent of its visitors coming from Central or Western/Northern Canada.

Canadians crave Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) travel experiences, such as cultural workshops and traditional lodgings. The report shows Indigenous-owned and -operated tourism is gaining traction, driving opportunities for Indigenous tourism businesses and communities.

Fifty-seven per cent of Canadians are likely to take part in those experiences in the future, Gen Zs (75%) and Millennials (68%) being the most eager to participate. Indigenous tourism organizations would benefit from partnering with national and provincial governments to raise further awareness and offer new experiences to travellers.

Gen Z spending the least on trips

While Gen Xs plan to spend the most on travel this year ($2,671), Gen Zs intend to spend the least ($2,100). The report also shows Gen Zs and Millennials are the biggest fans of sustainable and regenerative tourism, saying it’s important that their travel destinations and experiences demonstrate environmental sustainability in some form, such as low carbon footprints, renewable energy sources, and EV charging stations.

They are the most willing to participate in such travel experiences, and the most willing to pay for them.

“The demand for sustainable and regenerative travel is gaining momentum, but not all Canadians are willing to pay the price to help leave a place better than they found it,” adds Leslie Peterson. “Tourism businesses that can overcome greenwashing-related skepticism and explain the lasting value of sustainable travel by backing up claims with facts will foster trust in eco-friendly tourism offerings and position themselves at the leading edge of this burgeoning trend.”

Learn more about the 2024 Canadian Summer Travel Outlook here.

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Latest

Celebrity River Cruises is launching in Europe for a truly boutique experience

Celebrity Cruises will usher in a new era in river cruising with Celebrity River Cruises, a premium river cruise vacation that will begin taking bookings this year. The brand has signed an initial order for 10 transformative ships that will take guests to historic cities on the world’s most iconic rivers, launching in Europe. Celebrity Cruises will bring the elevated

St. Regis Aruba Resort opens on Palm Beach Coast

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts has opened The St. Regis Aruba Resort, a seafront oasis designed by Hirsch Bender Associates. As part of Marriott International’s distinguished luxury portfolio, the resort epitomizes the brand’s rich heritage and signature rituals, offering an exclusive escape on Aruba’s most coveted coastline. This resort elevates the island’s hospitality scene with its refined elegance, featuring the first-ever St.

A list of all the new Four Seasons hotels opening soon

Four Seasons continues to execute its strategic growth across key global markets, expanding its iconic portfolio of hotels, resorts and residences while redefining experiential travel on land, at sea, and in the air. This growth is anchored in an approach that blends heritage with innovation as the company thoughtfully expands its offerings to meet the evolving needs of today’s luxury

Prince Edward County’s hottest resort just opened a spa

 Wander The Spa, the first-ever lakefront Nordic spa in Ontario, is officially open. A place for intention and restoration, disconnect to reconnect in the tranquility of a 10,000 square foot thermotherapy circuit, nestled among the tall grasses of Wander The Resort on West Lake in Prince Edward County (15841 Loyalist Pkwy, Bloomfield). Passes start at $95 and bookings are now