Barometer Report Highlights
Canada's travel market, according to the Conference Board of Canada, is
forecasted to experience moderate growth in 2018. After a strong year for
tourism activity in 2017, which included the 150th anniversary of Canada's
confederation, the overnight domestic, U.S. and overseas travel markets
are all expected to show slower growth in 2018.
Total overnight visits to the Winnipeg census metropolitan area (CMA) are
projected to grow another 3.0 per cent over 2017 actual visits, while visitor
spending is estimated to increase 6.7 per cent. Domestic travel in Canada,
overall, is estimated to increase 2.7 per cent over 2017 actuals; including
visitor growth of 3.1 per cent in leisure travel and 2.2 per cent for business
travel. Overnight visits from the U.S. are forecasted to grow 3.4 per cent
and overseas visits are expected to continue strong growth at 6.5 per cent.
Over the medium term, new developments will benefit future tourism and
continue to raise Winnipeg's profile as a travel destination. These include
the Winnipeg Art Gallery's $60-million Inuit Art Centre, Assiniboine Park's
$70-million Diversity Gardens (the final phase of its $200-million Imagine a
Place redevelopment), and True North Square, which will include a hotel
and retail space upon completion.