These Canadian cities just welcomed Airbnb guests for the first time

While Canadians are saying “elbows up” in response to tariffs and annexation threats from south of the border, a recent Airbnb report shows that people have been looking to relax and unwind in their own country for more than a year now.

In fact, some Canadians are visiting more off-the-beaten-path domestic destinations for the first time ever. 

In its recent report, Airbnb, a short-term accommodation platform that allows users to rent their houses, apartments, and cottages to vacationers, said last year was a record year for Canadian travel on the website, with nearly nine million domestic guest arrivals reported in 2024–an increase of over 40 per cent since 2019.

Interestingly enough, the report found that of more than 1,750 Canadian towns and cities that welcomed domestic travellers, 28 received Airbnb guests for the first time. 

While the report shows that Ontario and Quebec still tend to attract the most visitors, more tourists are choosing to explore Newfoundland and Saskatchewan.

Some municipalities that welcomed Airbnb tourists for the first time last year include Beachside, NL, Berwyn, AB, Brent’s Cove, NL, Coleville, SK, Cut Knife, SK, Garnish, NL, Holdfast, SK, Leading Tickles, NL, Saint-François-du-Lac, QC and Saint-Léonard, NB. 

The report says domestic tourism is driven by a lasting shift in travel habits following the pandemic. It adds that more than 70 per cent of all guest arrivals to Canada in 2024 were Canadians booking stays within the country. 

The report notes that in 2024, Ontario welcomed more than three million domestic travellers, including more than two million from the province itself. In Quebec, over one million residents of ‘la belle province’ booked stays in their home territory and in British Columbia, over one million local travellers kept their tourism dollars in B.C. 

More people are also visiting smaller provinces and territories. 

The report said Newfoundland and Labrador welcomed over 200,000 domestic guest arrivals in 2024, including nearly 100,000 from within Newfoundland and Labrador. Alberta welcomed over one million domestic guest arrivals, Saskatchewan welcomed over 100,000 Canadian travellers and Yukon welcomed over 13,000 tourists in 2024. 

While domestic searches are on the rise, Canadians are still interested in travelling abroad. 

While travel to the U.S. has declined, the report noted that Canadians are booking more stays in Mexico, with reservations up 30 per cent annually. Travel to Brazil and Japan is also increasing. 

“Globally, nights booked by Canadian guests in March grew faster year-over-year than the pace seen in Q4 2024 – showing Canadians’ appetite for travel both near and far,” the report said.