Toronto broke tourism records in 2025 with 28.2M visitors

Toronto recorded its strongest tourism performance on record in 2025, welcoming 28.2 million visitors who generated $9.1 billion in direct spending.

According to Destination Toronto, releasing its figures Wednesday (Jan. 28), this activity produced nearly $13.5 billion in total economic impact, with direct visitor spending rising four per cent compared with the previous record set in 2024.

More than one-third of total spending came from U.S. and international travellers, highlighting tourism’s role as one of Toronto’s most important export sectors.

Despite global economic uncertainty and shifting trade conditions, Toronto continued to strengthen its reputation as a leading global destination, says the city’s tourism authority.  

Toronto’s appeal was supported by a mix of cultural experiences, business events, neighbourhood attractions, and major festivals, all contributing to strong visitation across leisure and business segments.

“Against a backdrop of shifting trade policies, tariffs and economic uncertainty, Toronto solidified its position as a top global destination,” said Andrew Weir, president and CEO of Destination Toronto, in a statement. “Our visitor economy showed strong resilience, as Toronto has what travellers and meeting planners are seeking — compelling experiences paired with a warm welcome.”

U.K. & Germany lead int’l growth

International travel was the fastest-growing segment of Toronto’s visitor economy, increasing eight per cent to 1.4 million visitors.

Growth was led by the United Kingdom and Germany, with arrivals from those markets up 12 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.

Destination Toronto increased marketing and visibility efforts in the U.K., Germany, Mexico, and the U.S. to drive international growth and support the city’s long-term global tourism strategy.

Domestic visitors up

Domestic visitors remained the largest segment, accounting for 25 million travellers and growing three per cent year over year.

This growth was supported by a decline in Canadian travel to the United States and a rise in domestic travel within Canada, says Destination Toronto.

The U.S. market remained the second-largest source of visitors, with 1.9 million travellers, although this represented a six per cent decline from the previous year.

Tourism continues to play a major role in Toronto’s broader economic ecosystem, with visitors supporting businesses and communities across the city and beyond.

Spending by visitors also extends to other Ontario destinations such as Niagara, Muskoka, and Ottawa, contributing an estimated $2.2 billion in economic activity outside Toronto and supporting thousands of jobs across the province.

Meetings & events

Major meetings and events remained a core driver of the visitor economy.

In 2025, Toronto hosted 74 major multi-day meetings with more than 1,000 attendees, attracting an estimated 378,000 delegates.

This represented a 51 per cent year-over-year increase and generated approximately $982 million in economic impact.

Beyond immediate spending, large-scale meetings help attract global investment, trade, and talent in key sectors such as life sciences, technology, artificial intelligence, manufacturing, and finance.

Looking ahead

Looking ahead, Destination Toronto and its partners secured commitments for 70 future major meetings and events, expected to bring more than 370,000 attendees and generate nearly $973 million in economic impact.

Confirmed events for 2026 include international conferences in health sciences, technology, marketing, obesity and metabolic disorders, quantum computing, and multiple sclerosis research.

The largest event on Toronto’s 2026 calendar will be the FIFA World Cup, with the city selected as one of 16 host cities.

Toronto will host six matches, a FIFA Fan Festival, and citywide celebrations, positioning it in the global spotlight for billions of viewers and visitors.

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