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$995 Million

Total Expenditure in Alberta (2019)

1.3 Million

Total Person-Visits to Alberta (2019)

151,814,305

Number of Passport Holders (2022)

62 Million

Outbound Travellers (2021)

20,327,496

Potential visitors to Alberta (respondents who indicated they are definitely or very likely to visit Canada in the next two years)

Overview

Outbound travel fell to 62% below 2019 levels in 2021 due to worldwide border closures brought in to curtail COVID-19 infection rates. Recovery was underway throughout 2022 with United States outbound travel set to improve to 16% below 2019 levels. High inflation and weakening economic growth are likely to dampen the near-term travel recovery, however it is anticipated that outbound travel will return to 2019 levels by 2024.

On this page:

Competitor Comparison
Air Travel
Economic Indicators
Traveller Characteristics

Guided hike at Castle Falls in Castle Provincial Park with Uplift Adventures.

Competitor Comparison

Indicator Quebec Ontario Alberta BC Canada
Visitation (2019) 3.2 Million 12.9 Million 1.3 Million 6.4 Million 26.9 Million
Share of total national visitation (2019) 12% 48% 5% 24% -
Expenditure (2019) $1.9 Billion $4.2 Billion $995 Million $3.1 Billion $11.4 Billion
Share of total national expenditure (2019) 17% 37% 9% 27% -
Average spend (2019) $587 $323 $828 $474 $422

Air Travel

Economic Indicators

Indicator 2020 2021 2022
GDP - per capita (US$) $63,545 $70,264 $76,195
GDP - YoY Growth Rate  -1.5% 10.7% 8.7%
Exchange Rate (CAD/USD) (annual average) $1.34 $1.25 $1.30
Unemployment Rate (annual average) 8.1% 5.4% 3.7%
Inflation Rate (annual average) 1.2% 4.7% 7.1%*

*January 2022 - November 2022

Traveller Characteristics

Accommodation Booking Channel
Through an online booking engine 50%
Online through a travel agent/tour operator 37%
In-person through travel agent/tour operator 17%
Directly through lodging/accommodation establishment 35%
Through accommodation sharing services website 21%

Length of Stay
1 night 1%
2-3 nights 22%
4-6 nights 49%
7-13 nights 23%
14+ nights 5%

Seasonality (2019)

Purpose of Visit (2019)

Top Barriers to Travel
Cost 31%
Health risks 27%
Poor weather 24%
Safety concerns 23%
Delays and hassles at airports and boarders 18%
Unfavourable conditions for driving during the winter 17%
Top 5 Trip Anchors
Northern lights 33%
Natural attractions like mountains or waterfalls 32%
Nature parks 25%
Hiking or walking in nature 23%
Viewing wildlife or marine life 23%