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Report
en_GB
Canadians are eager to travel, with 79% saying they intend to take at least one overnight trip in 2026. Persistent tensions with the US equate to elevated interest in domestic…
Canada
Holidays and Vacations
simple
Canada Vacation Travel Market Report 2026
"Economic pressures dim the enthusiasm of Canadian travellers, but precise, authoritative messaging that activates on travellers' underlying motivations can still convince them to travel."
Canadians are eager to travel, with 79% saying they intend to take at least one overnight trip in 2026. Persistent tensions with the US equate to elevated interest in domestic travel, giving Canadian destinations an opportunity. However, high inflation and a cost of living crisis have caused confidence to plummet, forcing Canadians to reconsider their travel spending. Even those in a healthy financial state are considering fewer trips this year, leaving it up to travel brands to bridge the gap between intent and action.
Fewer trips means the stakes are higher for brands to deliver on the travel experience. This begins at the inspiration and planning stage, where travellers (especially Gen Z and Millennial travellers) feel lost amid a glut of travel information on the social media platforms they’ve come to rely on for inspiration and planning. From there, brand messaging has to move beyond discovery and activate on the myriad reasons a Canadian wants to take a trip.
Fortunately there are a few common angles brands can take. Event travel continues to be a popular trend among travellers, so destinations that can get the word out about interesting happenings in the area and advise on how to make an enriching vacation from there will have success.
This report looks at the following areas:
The market factors affecting Canadians’ travel outlook for 2026
The destinations Canadian travellers have in mind
The most important sources of travel inspiration
How Canadians are thinking about domestic travel
Barriers Canadians have to travel
Areas in which Canadians are interested in upgrading their travel
How brands (domestic and foreign) are appealing to Canadian travellers
Collapse All
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Outlook for vacation travel
Opportunities
Events and interest are compelling reasons for travel
Establish a reputation as a travel authority while breaking the short-form content mould
New Canadians are a rich customer pool
THE MARKET
Inflation continues to pressure Canadian purchasing decisions
Pessimistic Canadians will be harder to convince to travel
Graph 1: CSCE indicator, 2022-2025
Drops in fuel and airfare can strengthen brands’ case for travel
Graph 2: consumer price index, 2021-25
Recent laws may make travel more costly, decrease inbound traffic
Canadian travellers will have to consider their contentious neighbour
Focus on discovery to keep younger travellers in-country
Pivot to interests to capitalize on domestic ad saturation
Graph 3: attitudes toward destination interest – agree, total and by generation, 2025
Inspiration and planning
Brands require a varied online presence to effectively reach travellers
Graph 4: sources of travel inspiration, all travellers and by generation, 2025
Information is diffused across sources, laying bare the need for authority
Use blogs and forums to engender trust, project authority
Become a voice of authority for younger travel planners
Graph 5: attitudes toward travel planning, total and by generation, 2025
Domestic travel
Domestic travel interest implies humble ambitions
Market along travellers’ interests to maximize efficacy
Graph 6: attitudes toward travel marketing – agree, total and by generation, 2025
Serve as guides to attract untapped Gen Z potential
Graph 7: vacation type plans and interests, Gen Z, 2025
Tailor messaging to travellers at the provincial level
Graph 8: vacation type interest, by region, 2025
Barriers
Market expertise in travel info along with budgeting tips
Encourage guarded travellers to travel local
Value messaging can help convince travellers on the fence about plans
Graph 9: attitudes toward travel spending – agree, all travellers and by generation, 2025
Premiumisation
International flights hold the most appeal for upgrading
Advocate the premium experience to growing international segment
Marry loyalty with events to entice premium-minded Gen Z
Graph 10: likely areas of premiumisation – any rank, all travellers and by generation, 2025
Address how premiumisation augments/contrasts “normalcy” at home
Graph 11: likely areas of premiumisation – any rank, by region, 2025
Appeal to family to get secure travellers on board with upgrades
Graph 12: willingness to make sacrifices to travel, by generation and by financial situation, 2025
INNOVATION AND MARKETING
Focus on events to benefit from SIET travel’s popularity
Winnipeg appeals to Canadians through Canadian humour
The world eyes Canadian tourists, forcing brands to step up
Porter launches Caribbean routes with a youth-focused activation
Pique New Canadians’ interest to satisfy their curiousity, establish loyalty
APPENDIX
The consumer
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
Repertoire analysis methodology
Generation groups
Abbreviations
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