International Arrivals to Canada Drop for Ninth Month
Canada has recorded a ninth consecutive month of year-over-year declines in international arrivals, with 4.6 million visitors—including returning Canadian residents and non-residents—in October. This figure represents a 12.6 per cent decrease from the previous year, according to Statistics Canada.
This national downturn resonates in Calgary, a critical hub for international travel. While YYC Calgary International Airport saw a record-breaking summer with over four million passengers passing through in July and August 2025, marking the first time the airport exceeded two million passengers in each of those months, the trend for international arrivals remains a concern. Specifically, September 2025 saw 106,237 international visitors to YYC, a 3.1 per cent drop compared to September 2024.
Despite Calgary’s hospitality sector demonstrating resilience, with the city's hotel market leading major Canadian markets in May 2025 in occupancy and revenue per available room, the sustained decline in overall international arrivals poses a challenge for businesses reliant on global tourism and trade. Tourism Calgary has set ambitious goals to double the city's visitor economy to $6 billion by 2035, necessitating strategic adjustments to attract diverse international markets.
Understanding these shifting global travel patterns is crucial for Calgary’s stakeholders as they adapt strategies to continue boosting the local economy and maintaining the city’s appeal as a premier destination.
