U.S. and overseas arrivals to Canada both grew in July, StatCan says

OPPORTUNITY · Hotels & Tourism · Inbound demand

Statistics Canada’s leading indicator of international arrivals for July 2026, released August 11, counted 6.8 million international arrivals, up 6.3 per cent from July 2025. U.S. residents made 2.66 million trips (up 6.5 per cent), with automobile arrivals up 7.2 per cent and air arrivals up 4.8 per cent, and July 3 marked the busiest single day at 140,400 arrivals. Overseas arrivals reached 863,600, up 5.7 per cent, led by air at 779,600.

Canadians returning from the United States totalled 2.28 million, up 10.2 per cent year over year, but auto trips remain 28.9 per cent below July 2024 and air trips 26.8 per cent below — evidence that the domestic ‘stay in Canada’ pattern is still largely intact even as it softens at the margin.

What it means: For Alberta visitor-economy operators, the July numbers point to healthy inbound growth on top of a still-strong domestic base heading into fall. That combination rewards properties that put dated, rate-fenced offers in front of U.S. drive markets and Canadian shoulder-season travellers now, on their own booking channels, before OTA competition for the same demand intensifies.