Canada celebrated its 150th anniversary as a unified country last year, and a record number of guests came to the party: 20.8 million, according to Statistics Canada.
And it's more than just raw numbers: Since the previous peak year in 2002, the composition of tourists to Canada has changed significantly. Overnight arrivals to Canada from countries other than the United States reached an all-time high of over 31% in 2017, up from 19% in 2002. Overseas tourists typically stay in Canada longer and also spend more, benefiting tourism businesses across Canada, and the Canadian economy.
Destination Canada, the tourism promotion agency, credits the increase to using a variety of marketing strategies throughout the year. In the coming year there will be an added focus on drawing visitors from China, one of Canada's major trading partners. The government is helping by simplifying visa procedures and opening seven new visa application centers in China.
Photo: Royal Canadian Mint, Winnipeg (DrFumblefinger/TravelGumbo)
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