Brief
Manitoba tourism hits record 11 million visitors in 2025 despite wildfire season
Travel Manitoba says 2025 saw a historic surge in visitors and spending even as wildfires damaged many tourism assets.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Travel Manitoba announced on Tuesday that the province welcomed more than 11 million visitors in 2025, generating $2.4 billion in total spending and nearly $450 million in provincial tax revenues, despite a devastating wildfire season.
What happened
The 2025 tourism season recorded 11.1 million visits, of which 9.37 million were by Manitobans. Visitor spending rose 6.6 percent year‑over‑year to $1.27 billion. Out‑of‑province Canadians accounted for 1.13 million visits – a 15.3 percent increase – and spent $6.14 million, 28.3 percent more than in 2024. Visits from the United States grew 50 percent to about 471 000, contributing $361 million in spending, while other international arrivals rose 52 percent to roughly 111 000, adding $151 million.
What the reports add
The figures come from Statistics Canada, which reinstated exit interviews at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport in May 2025 after a pandemic‑related pause. Travel Manitoba highlighted that the province’s four‑season marketing strategy helped offset a dip in visitation between April 1 and June 30, when the wildfire impact was strongest.
What was said
Angela Cassie, interim president and CEO of Travel Manitoba, said, “Manitoba is a bit of a hidden secret, so it’s really exciting to see more and more people from across the country and internationally discovering everything that we have to offer.”
How it came about
Travel Manitoba noted that more than 100 tourism assets were affected by over 445 fires that forced evacuations across the province. Nevertheless, the agency’s promotion of Manitoba as a year‑round destination, combined with the resumption of airport exit surveys, provided clearer data on visitor origins and spending, underpinning the reported record figures.
Key facts
- Manitoba welcomed over 11 million visitors in 2025. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- Total visitor spending reached $2.4 billion. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- Provincial tax revenues from tourism were nearly $450 million. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- U.S. visits rose 50 percent to about 471 000, spending $361 million. (winnipegfreepress.com)
Sources
- [1] winnipegfreepress.com — originally reported as “Manitoba tourism reached new heights in 2025”
