Canada's tourism sector grew twice as fast as the broader economy last year
VANCOUVER, BC, July 24, 2025 /CNW/ - The data is in and the picture is clear. The 2024 GDP infographic developed in collaboration with Statistics Canada, confirms that tourism delivers high growth and fast returns, offering one of Canada's highest growth export opportunities.
In 2024, tourism was among the fastest growing sectors, contributing $50.8 billion to Canada's GDP accounting for 1.8% of overall GDP. That's a 3.6% growth rate (inflation adjusted) from the previous year and outpaces the national GDP growth rate of 1.7%.
The data also shows that:
- Tourism export revenue is up 7% year on year (inflation adjusted). As Canada's second-largest services export, tourism continues to contribute more to GDP than some of the largest industrial sectors like mining or automotive manufacturing.
- Tourism sustains more than 265,000 businesses in 5000 communities from coast to coast to coast.
- The number of jobs generated by tourism increased - 1 in 10 workers across the economy are supported by tourism industries.
- Tourism activities generated $129.7 billion in revenues in 2024 - that's $350 million per day and represents a 3.5% increase (inflation adjusted) from 2023.
In the next five years, the Canadian tourism sector is expected to continue outpacing the Canadian economy, in line with the goals outlined in Destination Canada's 2030 strategy.
Learn more about tourism's contribution to Canada (2024), in the full infographic now available on the award-winning Canadian Tourism Data Collective.
B-Roll available here.
About Destination Canada
At Destination Canada, we believe that tourism enhances the wealth and wellbeing of Canadians and enriches the lives of visitors. Our mission is to influence supply and build demand for the benefit of locals, communities and visitors through leading research, alignment with public and private sectors, and marketing Canada nationally and abroad.
Tourism contributes $130B to the Canadian economy. That's more than $350M a day in revenue powered by 265,000 businesses in 5,000 communities coast to coast to coast. Destination Canada's activities convert public dollars into international visitor spending within the same year—creating jobs, GDP, and tax revenues almost immediately. Every dollar invested in DC turns into a demonstrable financial return for Canadian businesses, workers, communities, and governments.
Knowing that diversity is our greatest asset, we promote Canada as a premier four-season leisure and business tourism destination around the country and world in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, United Kingdom and the United States. Additionally, our Business Events team uses global insights to target and attract international events aligned with Canada's top economic sectors.
Destination Canada is a Crown corporation wholly owned by the Government of Canada.
SOURCE Destination Canada
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