Canada to See an Increase in Visitors From Within Canada and Abroad in 2016

OTTAWA, June 14, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada's tourism should see another strong year in 2016. Domestic visits are projected to increase by 2.1 per cent, while overnight visits to Canada from the U.S. and overseas are expected to increase by 5.1 and 5.2 per cent this year, respectively, according to The Conference Board of Canada's National and Metropolitan Travel Markets Outlooks.

Highlights

• Overnight visits to Canada from the U.S. and overseas are expected to grow by 5.1 and 5.2 per cent this year, respectively.
• Domestic visits within Canada are set to rise by 2.1 per cent in 2016.
• Canadian travel prices are forecast to increase by 1.7 per cent this year.
• Halifax, Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa-Gatineau, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver will all attract more visitors in 2016

"A favourable exchange rate coupled with low gas prices will make Canada an attractive destination for both Canadian and international travellers in 2016," said Greg Hermus, Associate Director for The Conference Board of Canada's Canadian Tourism Research Institute.

Regionally, the nine Canadian cities covered in the report should see varied levels of tourism growth in 2016. Edmonton will see the lowest growth at 0.8 per cent, while Vancouver will see the highest increase with overnight visits expected to increase by 4.1 per cent in 2016.

Halifax
Reinforced by strengthening economic prospects and recent hotel room additions, overnight travel to Halifax is forecast to grow by 2.7 per cent in 2016. The number of Canadians travelling to the city is also expected grow by 2.2 per cent this year. Meanwhile, U.S. travel to Halifax should get a boost from a new direct air connection with Boston.

Quebec City
Overnight travel to Québec City is projected to increase 3 per cent in 2016, with the strongest gains coming from international markets. Most notably, overnight visits from the U.S. are forecast to increase by 5.1 per cent, while visits from overseas should increase by 5.3 per cent.

Montreal
Overnight visits are projected to increase by 3.4 per cent, with the strongest growth coming from overseas markets. New attractions and greater hotel inventory should help stimulate pleasure travel while large conventions, such as the World Social Forum and the International Economic Forum of the Americas, should boost business travel.

Ottawa-Gatineau
Business travel to Canada's capital is expected to experience slightly stronger growth due to an increase in public sector spending and employment. Low gas prices should also help increase auto travel from nearby border states. Overall, overnight visits to the Nation's Capital should rise by 2.7 per cent.

Toronto
Tourism activity in the city should get a lift this year from the city's hosting of major sporting events, such as the NBA All-Star Game, the Grey Cup, and the World Cup of Hockey. All told, overnight visits to Toronto are projected to increase by 3.3 per cent in 2016.

Winnipeg
Solid economic prospects and rising consumer confidence should support overnight visits to the city, which are set to increase by 2.7 per cent. Moreover, Winnipeg's tourism industry should receive a boost from the NHL Heritage Classic Game.

Calgary
Weaker economic conditions should benefit Alberta's pleasure travel as they encourage Albertans to travel closer to home. The city's pleasure travel industry should also benefit from hosting the 2016 Juno Awards and the opening of the National Music Centre.

Edmonton
Tourism in Edmonton is in for another difficult year. The local and provincial economic woes have taken a toll on corporate profitability and lowered consumer confidence in the province. Overnight visits to the city will increase by a slight 0.8 per cent in 2016.

Vancouver
Overnight visits to Vancouver are poised to grow by 4.1 per cent in 2016, thanks to the strength of domestic and international markets. Pleasure travel to the city should receive a boost from the opening of the Trump International Hotel and from hosting the World Rugby Sevens Tournament.

The Travel Markets Outlook – National Focus provides a forecast for Canada's tourism industry and each of the 10 provinces and Yukon. Its companion publication, Metropolitan Focus: Tourism Insights for Select Metropolitan Areas, provides a tourism forecast for nine Canadian cities. Both are available on our e-Library.

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SOURCE Conference Board of Canada

Yvonne Squires, Media Relations, The Conference Board of Canada, Tel.: [phone] ext. 221, E-mail: [email protected]; or Juline Ranger, Director of Communications, The Conference Board of Canada, Tel.: [phone] ext. 431, E-mail: [email protected]