A look at where Canadians want to go for domestic trips this year, as well as surprising destinations for foreign visitors to Canada. Today’s post also looks at where to see the Northern Lights and how young people are looking for “roamance” on the road.
CANADIAN HOT SPOTS FOR 2024: Moncton, Windsor, Vancouver and Richmond Hill?
2023 was, by many reports, considered the “return to travel”, with tourism reaching nearly 90% of pre-pandemic levels*. With travel showing no signs of slowing down, Canadians are eager to explore their own country, and far beyond, this year. Without further ado, here are the destinations that Canadians want to visit in 2024, according to travel leader Booking.com’s 2024 Travel Predictions report**.
Canadians’ Top 5 Domestic Destination to Visit in 2024
- Moncton, New Brunswick
- Blue Mountains, Ontario
- Surrey, British Columbia
- Quebec City, Quebec
- Windsor, Ontario
New Brunswick has been gaining momentum as a vacation destination, and its most populous “Hub City” Moncton is looking towards a great year for visitors. I haven’t spent much time in Moncton, but I like Fredericton and Saint John, and it’s always fun to visit St. Andrews by the Sea. I also love the Acadian Coast and the drive along the Bay of Fundy near St. Martins, where you’ll find great chowder places and two covered bridges.
Quebec City, known for its strong European influence and feel, can expect an increase in Canadian visitors as 34% of Canadians plan to travel closer to home to create “luxe-for-less” copycat vacations to save money this year**.
48% of Canadians would like to venture off the beaten path this year, which may be why Windsor, a key gateway between Canada and the U.S., is attracting attention. Not typically known as a vacation destination, Windsor’s lush waterfront dotted with cultural art, and new Adventure Bay Family Water Park, may attract more visitors than ever this year.
I spent a couple days in Windsor and Amherstburg last summer and found great food, rich Black History and excellent wine and craft beer places to explore.
Art Windsor-Essex is a tremendous art museum/gallery in Windsor, Ontario. JIM BYERS PHOTO
International Travellers’ Top 5 Canadian Destinations to Visit in 2024
- Vancouver, British Columbia
- Quebec City, Quebec
- Richmond Hill, Ontario
- Surrey, British Columbia
- Montreal, Quebec
When it comes to the places that international travellers want to visit in Canada, our cooler climate may be a draw. 51% of global travellers report that climate change will impact the way they plan their vacation in 2024, while 56% say that as temperatures soar close to home, they will use their vacation to cool down elsewhere**.
Mainstay cities like Vancouver, for its knockout combination of urban and nature blended in one, and Montreal, for its rare European vibe and rich cultural reputation, remain top of many lists. Some road trippers may want to rent a car and drive from Montreal to Quebec City for a scenic drive through historic towns and lush wineries that’s just under three hours.
(Hot tip for February lovebirds visiting Vancouver: book the adorable walking tour of the city’s most romantic, picturesque places for Valentine’s Day. 23% of Canadian couples reported that deepening their connection with their partner is their main priority for travelling in 2024**)
This year, Richmond Hill, a city just a few minutes north of Toronto, is a new entry to the list. Richmond Hill boasts an abundance of lush trail networks and lakes, strong ethnic diversity, and restaurants galore. It could also be a case of family members coming to Canada to visit friends and relatives. Being close to Toronto and Canada’s Wonderland in Vaughan might help boost the city’s cause. Still, I found that a little surprising (sorry, Richmond Hill.)
Just over a half hour’s drive from Vancouver, Surrey’s immaculate gardens and diverse culinary scene are clearly attracting the attention of the world.
Quebec City in winter. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Canadians of course want to explore the world beyond our borders as well, with plans to visit Asia and Europe at the top of many lists. Here’s a look at our top spots for this year.
Canadians’ Top 5 Global Destination to Visit in 2024
- Tokyo
- Bangkok
- Florence
- Porto
- Rome
In 2024, 53% of Canadian travellers are more interested in learning about the origins of a destination’s ‘must-eat’ delicacies than they were in the past**. Tokyo’s Tour of Shibuya is a no-brainer for culinary travellers, taking you on a spirited walking tour through the bustling arts and fashion hub, with stops along the way to taste some of the most-loved Japanese food.
Over two thirds (65%) prefer to travel with loose plans so they can change direction based on what feels good in the moment in 2024. Walking-friendly places like Roma, Florence, and Porto, have so much to see around every corner that making strict plans can actually take away from the joy of exploring their charming, dream-like neighbourhoods.
Tokyo Image by Sofia Terzoni from Pixabay.
Booking.com is delighted to help you on your way…
With a mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, Booking.com offers property stays with discounts starting at 15% on Booking.com’s Getaway Deals page.
Designed to make every trip a better experience, Booking.com’s Genius loyalty program is free, easily accessible, with membership that lasts a lifetime, and rewards users with perks like exclusive discounts, room upgrades, free breakfasts, and more. Travellers simply need to create a Booking.com account to achieve Genius status for life. Just sign into your Booking.com account and look for the Genius logo to identify exclusive benefits, discounts and perks.
*Source: The World Tourism Organization report released on November 30, 2023.
**Methodology: Travel Predictions 2024 research commissioned by Booking.com and conducted among a sample of adults who plan to travel for business or leisure in the next 12-24 months. In total, 27,730 respondents across 33 countries and territories were polled.
EXPEDIA SAYS NORTHERN LIGHTS TOURISM BIG THIS YEAR
The northern lights. Vincent Guth/Unsplash Photo
This year’s hotspots are looking a whole lot cooler with the rise of Northern Lights tourism, spurred by reports that the astronomical phenomenon will be extraordinarily visible in 2024. According to a survey commissioned by Expedia, almost three-quarters of Canadians (71%) aspire to see the Northern Lights in their lifetime but haven’t yet crossed the item off their bucket-list1. Travelling to see the Aurora Borealis is more in-demand than going on an African Safari (44%), exploring Japan during cherry blossom season (43%), or visiting Machu Picchu in Peru (38%). Expedia searches are skyrocketing for winter trips to Northern Lights “capitals” like Lapland in Finland, Churchill, Manitoba, and Alta in Norway.
To help travellers plan, Expedia has released a Northern Lights Insider Guide packed with insights on trending destinations, booking hacks, photography tips and ideal itineraries.
“Planning your Northern Lights adventure might feel like navigating uncharted territory, but we’ve made it easy for travellers to make this trip a reality,” said Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group Brands public relations. “From Canada to Norway, the free guide shows where to stay for under $200 a night or how to bundle a whole trip together for under $2000. There’s even a photography guide to make sure you know how to capture the memory.”
Expedia’s Northern Lights Insider Guide
Everything you need to know to plan and book a once-in-a-lifetime trip to chase the Northern Lights in 2024:
Due to an auspicious solar cycle, 2024 is expected to bring increased opportunities for travellers to glimpse the Northern Lights. Here are the most popular places to chase the aurora borealis this year, based on Expedia traveller data:
Finland: For Canadian aurora hunters, Finland is an extremely popular destination with hotel searches increasing 197% in 2023 versus 2022. The Finnish Lapland region is most popular (+328%), home to popular Northern Lights locales Rovaniemi (+313%) and Levi (+128%), among others.
Canada: Top Canadian destinations for Northern Lights tourism included Churchill, Manitoba boasting a 173% increase in hotel searches in 2023 compared to 2022. Whitehorse, Yukon (+20%) and Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (+18%) also saw increases.
Norway: Norway’s Northern Lights season stretches from fall to spring, but statistically the best times to see the lights are in March/April and September/October. Top destinations included Kirkenes (+189%), Tromsø (+109%) and Alta, the second northern-most city in the world (+115%).
U.S.A.: America’s largest state, Alaska, saw an increase of 104% with Fairbanks being the most popular destination (128%). Visit in late August through mid-April for the best chance of spotting the Northern Lights.
VALENTINE’S DAY AND TRAVEL: MAKE WAY FOR “ROAMANCE”
Daria Mamont/Unsplash Photo
Young Canadians are looking for love in faraway places, a new study suggests.
As Cupid readies his arrows for Valentine’s Day later this month, a recent Flight Centre Travel Group survey conducted by YouGov reveals that Canadian Zillennials—a blend of Gen Z and Millennials—are charting a new course for romance. Rather than the customary candlelit dinners or bouquets, younger generations are embracing travel as their love language, setting a trend for ‘roamantic‘ getaways under the expansive Canadian sky and beyond.
In Search of ‘Roamance’:
- Nearly 45% of Zillennials surveyed across Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK are seeking ‘roamantic’ connections while travelling.
- Parallel to global peers, 41% of Canadian Zillennials are in pursuit of ‘roamantic’ interludes on their journeys.
- Though ‘roamance’ knows no borders, Canadian men (49%) report a higher incidence of seeking love abroad, surpassing Canadian women (33%).
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