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As Travel Gets Complicated Canadians Are Staying Local This Summer
April 22, 2026 4 Minute Read
First it was patriotism, then concerns about safety and now the cost of airfare. Travel is getting increasingly complicated.
CBRE’s Rebecca Godfrey says 2026 summer travel plans are not about going the extra mile. Instead, Canadians are swapping long overseas holidays for shorter trips closer to home.
“Rising flight costs are pushing people to seek out local experiences, much like during the pandemic,” says Godfrey, who heads CBRE’s Destination & Tourism Consulting group. “The emphasis is on short, convenient getaways, especially those with attractions and wellness benefits.”
Vacations Centered Around Convenience
The North American work week seems to be extending beyond what it used to be, Godfrey notes. “Even though work is often more flexible, people feel like they are really struggling to juggle things.”
Work pressure, combined with financial strain, is in turn changing how Canadians travel. A 2025 Blue Cross Travel Study found that over a third of travellers are cutting costs by shortening trips, finding cheaper accommodations and staying closer to home.
“Being able to have an escape where you can take your work with you, if you must, is becoming more common,” says Godfrey.
Popular Ontario tourist destinations like Elora, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Prince Edward County will see more foot traffic from Toronto residents wanting to get away from the city.
In Alberta, urban dwellers will head for the mountains in Banff, Canmore and Kananaskis for hiking, rock climbing and other outdoor adventures.
“The short getaway is really the main trend we’ll be seeing this year from a travel perspective,” Godfrey says.
The Fun That Funds
Destinations offering unique attractions can expect to see more visitors this summer, according to Godfrey. “We’ve been seeing a lot of success in places that offer a ‘fun’ element, like an exhibit or live show.”
The Vancouver Aquarium, for instance, is drawing big crowds with a virtual reality, motion-platform theatre that enables visitors to explore the underwater world and a “wet lab” where children can interact with invertebrates. Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada in Toronto is also adding a new exhibit this year that will draw inspiration from street art, merging local street- inspired visuals with technicolour fish and marine species of coral reefs.
“While Canadian aquariums and zoos are committed to conservation, climate awareness and animal welfare, it’s the ‘fun’ that funds these efforts at the end of the day,” says Godfrey. “Foot traffic goes up the moment there’s a memorable attraction.”
More Canadian ski resorts are offering summer activities and policies are being developed, such as the Alberta All Season Resorts Act, to encourage development of year-round tourism assets at mountain resorts across the country. Attractions like ziplines, via ferratas (protected climbing routes) and gondolas will help draw more tourists outside of ski season this year.
“It’s difficult for ski resorts to grow and maintain a healthy business if they’re not open year-round,” says Godfrey. “Introducing summer activities is a great way to keep people coming.”
“Between high financial stakes and climate issues, mountain ski resorts across the globe are looking to extend recreational land use during off peak. In Canada, we’re seeing a push to create mountain resort villages that can boost tourism and create year-round recreational, commercial and residential use.”
Spa Getaways
Health and wellness getaways are going to be popular this summer, particularly in Ontario and Western Canada.
“The wellness trend is huge,” says Godfrey. “We’re continuing to see a lot of developer interest in building Nordic spas.”
Canmore’s Everwild Spa has thermal bath circuits with breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains, while Toronto’s new AIRE Ancient Baths is an urban oasis that doesn’t require leaving the city. Both give visitors the option of upgrading their stays with massages or simply enjoying a day of hot-and-cold circuits.
“In uncertain times, wellness doesn’t feel frivolous – it feels like a meaningful investment in yourself,” says Godfrey. “We’re seeing more people integrate wellness in their daily routines.”
“And it checks all the boxes: a spa day can be short, convenient and reasonably priced, offering the perfect escape on the weekend or even after a long workday.”
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