Montreal tourism rose 7% with a surprise spike from the Maritimes

Montreal welcomed 11.8 million visitors in 2025, a 7.3% increase driven by a rise in domestic travel and a 17% increase from Atlantic Canada.

Montreal's tourism sector recorded 11.8 million visitors in 2025, a 7.3 per cent increase from the prior year. Tourisme Montréal's year-end report attributes much of the growth to a roughly 10 per cent rise in domestic travel and stronger interest from Atlantic Canada. Officials reported that geopolitical uncertainty affected the first half of the year but that numbers recovered in the latter months. Marketing efforts that generated about 15 million views and increased website traffic were cited as supporting factors. Key details: - Total visitors: 11.8 million in 2025, up 7.3% year-over-year. - Domestic travel grew about 10%, with Atlantic Canada (the Maritimes) up 17%. - U.S. visits declined about 5%, while overseas markets rose 2%, led by a reported 470,000 visitors from France. - Total tourism spending remained at $5.8 billion, with food and accommodation accounting for nearly three-quarters of revenue. - Hotel capacity increased around 4%, occupancy exceeded 80% for more than 90 days, and the average booking window shortened to about 50 days. Summary: The reported gains indicate a recovery in visitor volumes after an uncertain start to 2025, supported by targeted marketing and expanded hotel capacity. Tourisme Montréal says it is looking toward a busy 2026, highlighted by the UCI Road World Championships in September and the Formula 1 Grand Prix moved to May. Officials reported these events as key elements of planning for the year ahead.