Greater Victoria Sees Record-breaking Visitor Numbers As Local Tourism Economy Reaches New Heights

Published on September 26, 2025

This summer, Greater Victoria saw record-breaking visitant numbers, propelling its section tourism system to caller heights. Despite a slowdown successful recreation to nan United States from Canada, nan region knowledgeable an influx of visitors, marking a singular twelvemonth for nan area’s hospitality and tourism sectors. Hotels reported unprecedented occupancy, pinch nan highest levels successful complete a decade. At nan aforesaid time, Victoria International Airport and BC Ferries some group records for rider numbers, further underlining nan city’s increasing fame arsenic a must-visit destination.

Not only did accommodation sectors thrive, but nan region’s iconic cruise traffic and taste events besides played a important domiciled successful boosting its economy. As Greater Victoria’s tourism economy reaches these awesome milestones, it remains clear that nan city’s vibrant taste scene, stunning landscapes, and welcoming organization are attracting much visitors than ever before.

Tourism Boom: Hotels Break Records for Occupancy and Revenue

This summer, nan accommodation assemblage successful Greater Victoria reached caller peaks. Hotels and different lodgings recorded their astir robust capacity successful astatine slightest 10 years. According to Destination Greater Victoria, nan region saw unprecedented levels successful cardinal metrics specified arsenic edifice occupancy, mean regular room rates, and gross per disposable room (RevPAR).

In August 2025, occupancy rates soared to 94.3%, a notable summation of much than 4 percent points compared to nan erstwhile year. With year-to-date occupancy astatine 79.9%, this marks nan highest level nan region has seen successful nan past decade. These numbers item nan beardown request for tourism-related services successful nan area, reinforcing nan region’s position arsenic a apical destination for some home and world visitors.

The mean regular room complaint besides saw awesome gains, topping $396 successful August alone, while gross per disposable room roseate supra $374. These figures not only bespeak nan spot of nan accommodation assemblage but besides bespeak nan wide maturation of nan location economy.

Record-Breaking Traffic astatine Victoria International Airport

Greater Victoria’s proscription infrastructure besides benefitted from nan influx of visitors this summer. Victoria International Airport (YYJ) saw record-breaking rider traffic, pinch much than 600,000 travelers passing done betwixt June and August 2025. The airport’s highest period was August, which welcomed 227,000 passengers alone, surpassing erstwhile years’ totals and contributing to nan region’s tourism growth.

This record-breaking postulation highlights Victoria’s expanding fame arsenic a destination for some short and long-haul visitors. Local tourism operators in installments nan robust capacity of nan airdrome to nan region’s well-established attractions, including outdoor adventures, taste experiences, and nan city’s picturesque charm.

BC Ferries Sets Record for Passenger and Vehicle Numbers

BC Ferries, an basal constituent of Victoria’s tourism network, besides saw an exceptional summation successful rider traffic. Between mid-May and precocious August, BC Ferries carried a grounds 9.4 cardinal passengers and 3.7 cardinal vehicles crossed its routes. This surge successful ferry postulation underscores nan region’s expanding appeal, particularly for visitors arriving by ferry from Vancouver and different parts of British Columbia.

Cruise Traffic Sets New Milestones for Victoria

The cruise assemblage besides played a important domiciled successful Victoria’s tourism maturation this summer. According to nan Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, nan metropolis welcomed complete 1 cardinal cruise passengers during nan 2025 season, which began successful April. This milestone marks a caller era for Victoria arsenic a premier destination for cruise lines operating on nan Pacific Coast.

Cruise tourism has go a cornerstone of nan region’s economy, pinch visitors arriving successful ample numbers to research nan city’s attractions, shop locally, and return portion successful nan vibrant taste events that qualify Victoria.

Impact connected Local Businesses and Entrepreneurs

The region’s thriving tourism assemblage is having a ripple effect crossed various industries. Local businesses, peculiarly mini entrepreneurs, are seeing nan affirmative impacts of accrued visitation. Paul Nursey, CEO of Destination Greater Victoria, acknowledges nan captious domiciled that commercialized accommodation providers play successful this success, but besides emphasizes nan corporate contributions of hundreds of mini businesses that make Greater Victoria specified a move spot to visit.

Local operators, from circuit guides to edifice owners, person seen tangible benefits from nan maturation successful tourism. The hospitality sector, successful particular, has knowledgeable a boost, pinch restaurants, unit shops, and taste institutions each enjoying heightened traffic.

A Shift successful Tourist Preferences: Sustainable Travel Becomes Key

One noticeable inclination among visitors is simply a increasing liking successful sustainability and responsible tourism. Operators for illustration Eagle Wing Tours person observed an summation successful guests who are keen to prosecute pinch nan region’s biology and taste initiatives. Tourists are progressively asking astir nan section wildlife, including whale watching opportunities, arsenic good arsenic nan indigenous stewardship practices that thief sphere Victoria’s earthy beauty.

Brett Soberg, co-owner of Eagle Wing Tours, notes that nan request for acquisition and sustainable tourism experiences is not only helping to money conservation efforts but besides ensuring that nan region’s tourism manufacture continues to thrive good beyond nan summertime months. These initiatives let tourism operators to reinvest successful research, education, and residence protection while keeping crews engaged year-round.

A Season to Remember: Local Events Drive Tourism Forward

In summation to nan influx of visitors, Greater Victoria’s summertime events were besides cardinal to nan region’s tourism success. Iconic events specified arsenic Phillips Backyard, Rifflandia, and nan return of Symphony Splash drew ample crowds, showcasing nan city’s taste offerings and making nan play uniquely typical for some locals and visitors alike.

The accordant beingness of specified events, alongside Victoria’s beautiful earthy surroundings, helped found nan region arsenic an exciting, multifaceted destination for each types of travelers. These festivals provided a level for some emerging and established artists, while besides offering visitors an authentic acquisition of nan city’s culture.

The Path Ahead: What’s Next for Greater Victoria’s Tourism Industry?

As Greater Victoria’s tourism system continues to surge, nan region’s tourism leaders stay optimistic astir nan future. With precocious levels of visitation, record-breaking capacity crossed sectors, and expanding request for sustainable, taste experiences, nan metropolis is poised for continued maturation successful nan years to come.

Local businesses are adapting to nan evolving needs of visitors, focusing connected enriching their offerings to entreaty to nan modern traveler. Meanwhile, nan region’s leaders are looking astatine really they tin prolong this maturation while preserving nan elements that make Victoria specified a typical destination: its earthy beauty, vibrant culture, and committedness to sustainable tourism. Greater Victoria has group a caller benchmark for tourism success, and arsenic nan region prepares for different engaged season, location is nary motion of slowing down.

Source: Peninsula News Review