U.S. and Overseas Arrivals to Canada Climb Again in July

OPPORTUNITY · Hotels & Tourism · Inbound Travel

Statistics Canada’s leading indicator of international arrivals, released August 11, shows U.S. residents made 2.7 million trips to Canada in July 2026 — up 6.5% year-over-year, with automobile trips up 7.2% and air arrivals up 4.8%. Overseas-resident arrivals grew 5.7% to roughly 864,000, led by air arrivals up 6.8%. In total, international arrivals reached 6.8 million for the month, a 6.3% gain over July 2025.

For Alberta’s visitor economy, this lands on top of an already strong year for American demand into the Rockies and the province’s two major cities. High-value U.S. and overseas guests continue to arrive in growing numbers even as the domestic staycation wave begins to normalize — a meaningful shift in where next season’s growth will come from.

What it means: The growth channel is shifting from domestic to inbound. Operators who build direct relationships with U.S. and overseas guests — through targeted campaigns, currency-advantage messaging, and booking paths designed for international travellers — will capture this demand at full margin rather than renting it back from the OTAs.