Canadians might be polite, but they’re also flexible and determined travellers, even in the face of very real economic pressures.
A new survey from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) shows nearly nine in 10 Canadians plan to travel in 2026, with most expecting to travel as much or more than they did last year. A further 58% of respondents said travel is central or important to their lives.
While 81% of households expect to make compromises, the survey found that domestic tourism is increasingly a deliberate choice of travellers, not a default option, reflecting shifting preferences and priorities.
Canadians see being flexible as the price of travel, according to BDC data, which is good news for advisors having to juggle a fast paced travel environment subject to geopolitical changes.
With 92% of travellers planning at least one trip within Canada this year, BDC said domestic demand is no longer a side story. A whopping 70% of Canadians also said they are avoiding travel to the United States, with data suggesting that Canadians are increasingly choosing Canadian destinations on their own merits, driven by the appeal of Canada’s diversity.
The development bank said this shift is turning domestic travel into a growing source of demand for tourism and hospitality businesses. It estimates that replacing just one overnight stay abroad with one day of travel in Canada could generate up to $4.6 billion in additional GDP — without Canadians spending more overall.
The top travel compromise varies by region — and points to opportunity
- In British Columbia and northern regions, travellers are showing they’re willing to be more flexible with their travel dates.
- In the Prairies, travellers are the least likely to anticipate making compromises overall. Among those who do, the most common trade-off is choosing more affordable accommodations
- In Ontario, choosing more affordable accommodations is the most common compromise.
- In Quebec, travellers are favouring shorter trips.
- In Atlantic Canada, off-season travel is above the national average, reinforcing opportunities to extend the tourism season.
“Tourism operators have a real opportunity to turn this shift into growth,” said Pierre Cléroux, BDC’s chief economist and vice president of research.
“Canadians are travelling — but they’re rewarding businesses that make travel easier to say yes to: flexibility, clear value and experiences that feel worth it,” he said. “Tourism businesses that offer flexible pricing, develop shoulder-season experiences, accommodate shorter stays and clearly promote their local appeal are most likely to capture this evolving demand.”
