Toronto draws a record 28.2 million visitors in 2025, boosting the local economy
Destination Toronto reports 28.2 million visits in 2025, $9.1 billion in direct spending and wider gains for the city's culture, meetings sector and businesses.
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By Torontoer Staff
Toronto drew a record 28.2 million visitors in 2025, Destination Toronto says, generating $9.1 billion in direct spending and contributing to a wider $13.5 billion economic boost for the region. The totals mark an increase from 2024, with direct spending up four per cent year over year.
The surge reflects stronger international arrivals, a rise in domestic travel within Canada and a rebound in large meetings and conventions that brought delegates and business to the city.
Where the visitors came from
Destination Toronto reports that 37 per cent of visitor spending came from U.S. and international markets. International arrivals were the fastest-growing segment in 2025, with visits from the United Kingdom up 12 per cent and visits from Germany up 10 per cent.
Domestic travel accounted for 25 million visits, a three per cent increase as more Canadians explored their own country. Visits from the United States totalled about 1.9 million, down six per cent from the previous year.
Meetings, conventions and the business lift
Large meetings and conventions drove a significant share of the economic gain. Toronto hosted 74 major meetings in 2025, a 51 per cent jump year over year, bringing an estimated 378,000 delegates and nearly $1 billion in economic impact.
Destination Toronto says those events provide more than immediate spending. Conferences help attract investment and talent to priority sectors including life sciences, technology, artificial intelligence, manufacturing and finance.
To grow our local and regional economy, it is essential that Toronto hosts the largest and most influential meetings in these sectors.
Andrew Weir, President and CEO, Destination Toronto
Culture, food and neighbourhoods
City officials say the influx of visitors is energizing neighbourhoods and cultural institutions while supporting restaurants, shops and attractions across Toronto. Mayor Olivia Chow highlighted the city’s diverse cultural offerings and food scene as key draws.
Toronto’s dynamic neighbourhoods, rich cultural offerings, globally inspired food scene and major events continue to draw visitors from around the world.
Mayor Olivia Chow
What’s on the calendar for 2026
Toronto’s event schedule for 2026 includes high-profile sports and professional gatherings that are expected to keep tourism momentum going. The city will host six FIFA World Cup matches and the FIFA Fan Festival, events that are likely to bring large international audiences.
- Six FIFA World Cup 2026 matches and the FIFA Fan Festival
- International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Annual Meeting
- IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering
- Joint Americas–European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis conference
Destination Toronto says the combination of major sporting events and global conferences will showcase the city to new audiences and provide additional economic and reputational benefits for local businesses and institutions.
What this means for residents and businesses
For local businesses, higher visitor numbers mean more customers for hotels, restaurants, cultural venues and retail. For residents, the influx can mean fuller streets and longer waits at popular attractions, but it also brings jobs and investment into the city.
City leaders and industry groups will face choices about balancing growth with community needs, including transportation, neighbourhood impacts and supporting cultural institutions to ensure benefits are widely shared.
Toronto’s record tourism year underlines the city’s global appeal and the role of events and conferences in driving both immediate spending and longer term economic opportunity. Officials say 2026 will be a critical test of how the city accommodates continued growth while maintaining quality of life for residents.
TorontotourismDestination TorontoeventseconomyFIFA2026
