Buoyed by both surging international arrivals and elbows-up domestic tourists, a record 28.2 million visitors came to Toronto in 2025, generating a record $9.1 billion in spending in Canada’s most-visited city.
Generating nearly $13.5 billion in economic impact, with 37% of spending coming from the U.S. and international markets, the $9.1 billion in direct spending exceeded the previous year’s record by 4%, reinforcing tourism’s role as one of the city’s most important export sectors, according to Destination Toronto, which published the annual tourism results in a report on Wednesday.
“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. “Our visitor economy showed strong resilience, as Toronto has what travellers and meeting planners are seeking – compelling experiences paired with a warm welcome.”
International
International arrivals were the fastest growing segment of tourism to Toronto last year, rising 8% to 1.4 million visitors, led by growth from the U.K. and Germany, up 12 and 10% respectively.
To spur the growth of international visitation, Destination Toronto increased Toronto’s visibility in the U.K., Germany and Mexico in 2025 along with the vital U.S. market, advancing the city’s global tourism strategy and positioning the city for further growth in 2026.
Domestic & U.S.
Domestic visitation remained the largest segment at 25 million visitors, increasing 3% as Canadian travel to the U.S. declined sharply and more Canadians travelled within their own country. The U.S. market was the second largest segment with 1.9 million visitors, down 6% from the previous year.
Mayor Olivia Chow. “Toronto’s dynamic neighbourhoods, rich cultural offerings, globally inspired food scene and major events and festivals continue to draw visitors from around the world. With the FIFA World Cup 2026 coming to Toronto, we’re excited to welcome the world and showcase everything our city has to offer.”
MICE
Major meetings and events (multi-day events with more than 1,000 attendees) are a core pillar of Toronto’s visitor economy. In 2025, Toronto hosted 74 major meetings with an estimated 378,000 delegates, a 51% year-over-year increase, and generating $982 million in economic impact.
Key meeting events in the city in 2026 will include the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation 46th Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions, Rendez-vous Canada, 2026 Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting, Corporate Event Marketing Association Summit, International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity & Metabolic Disorders World Congress 2026, IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering (QCE) and the Joint Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis and European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis 2026.
FIFA World Cup
The largest event in 2026 is the FIFA World Cup. Toronto is one of 16 host cities, with six matches, FIFA Fan Festival – Toronto, and celebrations planned for locals and fans who travel to Toronto to be part of the experience. The tournament will place the city in the global spotlight for billions of viewers worldwide.
If you enjoyed or found this story useful, we’d appreciate if you would forward it to a colleague or friend who may also enjoy it. If, on the other hand, a friend shared it with you, welcome! You can get all the latest travel news and reviews from Travel Industry by simply clicking HERE.