Right now 2.67 million Aussies have decided that they will be definitely, or very likely to be taking a trip to Canada in the next two years. Are we mind readers? No. Destination Canada’s hot off the press 2017 Global Tourism Watch read the country’s minds for us.
The results of the study show a 5% increase in Australian visitors to Canada since 2016, with visitation from Australia ranked sixth among Canada’s international markets in 2017.
Donna Campbell, Managing Director, Destination Canada GSA said this meant Canada getting better at converting Australians who may be in the ‘dreaming and planning’ stage into actual travellers who visit Canada.
Canada attracted 375,000 visitors from Australia in 2017, a 12% increase from 333,000 in 2016.
Canada’s western provinces continue to hold the greatest appeal for Australian travellers, with Ontario and Quebec also proving to be popular destinations.
Quebec
When asked what kind of activities are important enough to base an entire trip around, natural attractions ranked first, with northern lights, cruises, historical sites, and local food and wine making up the top five.
“The chance to sample local cuisine and wine is now the ‘most sought-after holiday experience’ for Australian visitors to Canada, with natural attractions ranking second, followed by wildlife viewing, national parks, historical sights, and the northern lights,” Donna explained.
“This tells us that Australian travellers want to immerse themselves in a destination, relish locally produced gastronomy, and participate in genuine ‘live-like-a-local’ experiences.”
Donna Campbell, Managing Director, Destination Canada GSA
And here’s some good news, Travel Agents and Tour Operators were the most popular method of booking Canada, with 67% of Australian visitors to Canada consulting one during 2017.
Young travellers aged 25 – 34 and those aged over 55 are most likely to be planning a trip to Canada, however, Australians aged 55+ perceive fewer barriers to travelling and are most likely to say nothing will stop them from visiting Canada.
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