A look at key Canadian travel trends
WARM ESCAPES + CUBA ALTERNATIVES
For the upcoming winter season, Canadian travellers are searching for ways to escape the cold.
“Canadians continue to book warm-weather escapes, especially where there are frequent direct flights,” shares Nathalie Tanious, President & CEO of H.I.S. Canada Travel Inc., parent company of travelbrands. “Top picks include Cancun/Riviera Maya, Punta Cana, Puerto Vallarta, Montego Bay, and quickly emerging Panama and Colombia.”
With Cuba flights and packages not currently being offered in the Canadian market, many travellers are seeking warm alternatives.
“Within the sun category, the Dominican Republic is gaining momentum, up 12.3% in our booking data this year,” says Anita Emilio, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Flight Centre Canada. “With Cuba unavailable, travellers are looking for alternatives that still offer a strong all-inclusive product and predictable total trip cost.”
DEMAND FOR ASIA SOARS
Data from Flight Centre Canada reveals that demand for Japan has been huge for the Canadian market.
“Japan is the standout. It has broken into Flight Centre Canada’s top 15 by total transaction value—up 37% year over year—alongside destinations that have anchored Canadian outbound travel for years,” Emilio says. “For a long-haul market to achieve that growth while cost pressures remain high and the Canadian dollar is soft is significant. Japan is not a budget trip, but the exchange rate can improve the value of dining, transportation and experiences once travellers arrive. We are seeing travellers return wanting to explore beyond Tokyo into Kyoto, Osaka and Hokkaido.”
Many destinations in Asia are also seeing strong interest from the Canadian market.
“Asia is also gaining momentum with interest growing in destinations that combine culture, food, and good value, including Tokyo, Bangkok, and Bali,” says Tanious.
In addition to Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam and China are among Flight Centre Canada’s fastest growing Asia destinations, as travellers seek memorable experiences with stronger value.
At Intrepid Travel, president Christian Wolters says the tour operator is also witnessing similar demand.
“When we look at what’s selling right now, there’s a really broad range of destinations performing well,” he says. “Asia continues to be a major area of interest, with destinations like Japan, China, Thailand and Indonesia seeing strong demand, while South America, particularly Ecuador, continues to grow.”
OH, CANADA! THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Intrepid Travel is seeing more interest in closer-to-home travel and Canada in general as travellers look for meaningful experiences without the crowds.
“Our Western Canada itineraries are an example of this strong selling and our new Squamish operational hub is supporting 81 departures across five itineraries this year, with several summer departures already full,” he shares.
Notably, the company recently released its “Not Hot List” for 2027, with Whitehorse, Yukon, being highlighted for the first time.
“If we want tourism to continue to be a force for good, we need to constantly rethink how and where we travel,” adds Erica Kritikides, general manager experiences. “The Not Hot List isn’t just about surfacing lesser-known places, it aims to shift the conversation and help travellers to discover new destinations where their visit can make a meaningful contribution to local communities and economies.”
EUROPE REMAINS HOT
In addition to vacationing in Canada, Tanious reports that Canadians are also booking and travelling to Europe.
“Many travellers are choosing destinations that offer good value or direct flights rather than simply the cheapest airfare,” she shares. “In Europe we’re seeing Paris, London, Sicily, Lake Como, the Amalfi Coast, the Greek Islands, and Tuscany.”
