Europeans are avoiding the U.S. and increasingly looking at trips to Canada, Ontario and Toronto, a new study says. According to a new Europe Pulse Study conducted by Context Research Group (CRG) on behalf of Destination Ontario and Destination Toronto, more than half of leisure travellers from the United Kingdom, Germany and France are considering a trip to Ontario in the next two years. Although some people might think Canada and the U.S. are much the same, the study said Europeans feel Canada is culturally and experientially distinct from the States. The study found that half of the European travellers who were surveyed are considering Read more
Canadian tourism
A new study by TD Economics says tourism spending in Canada is expected to grow at a modest 2-4% clip this year. Spending by U.S. visitors “is set to exert a drag on the overall tally this year. U.S. visits are falling amid trade tensions and economic uncertainty, with cross-border spending projected to decline by 5-10% this year,” the study said. “However, lower U.S. spending is expected to be offset by a rise in Canadian domestic tourism outlays as many residents redirect all or part of their travel budgets to the home market. Moreover, spending by non-U.S. international tourists in Read more
Destination Canada has unveiled a new campaign, “Canada, naturally.” It’s a nice play on words that emphasizes this country’s truly spectacular natural landscapes. The first look of this long-term campaign came with the launch of the U.S. multi-channel marketing campaign that went live in market May 12. “Rooted in Destination Canada’s 2030 Strategy: A World of Opportunity, Canada, naturally. is a bold step toward strengthening Canada’s global position and generating $160B in annual tourism revenue by 2030,” Destination Canada officials said. “To achieve this goal and build long-lasting demand, Canada needs to be a destination that resonates deeply with target Read more
Lists of great travel destinations are always arbitrary. But I still enjoy looking at lists of things like “World’s Best Cities,” or “Most Attractive Miniature Golf Courses.” The latest list to grab my attention is one of the 50 Best Beaches in North America, as compiled by World50Beaches. As always, there are some I quibble with, and some I think were wrongfully omitted. Yet this list is nice in that it points out a number of places I’ve never heard of, including a beauty in western Canada called San Josef Bay, which is on the far northwest tip of Vancouver Read more
The tariff spat between the United States and Canada may be having an effect on cross-border travel. Statistics Canada says the number of Canadians who returned to Canada from the U.S. by car last month was down 23% from February of last year, falling to 1.2 million. The number returning by air was down 2.4% to 1.8 million. “It doesn’t surprise me that we’re seeing a reduction in discretionary travel to the States,” Avery Campbell, the Director of Advocacy and Industry Relations for the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors, told me. Given that people usually book their Read more
