Rogers Place, the Edmonton Oilers making the playoffs and a surge in the provincial economy are all being cited as reasons for an increase in tourism in Edmonton, according to the Conference Board of Canada (CBOC).Published on : Friday, December 22, 2017
Rogers Place, the Edmonton Oilers making the playoffs and a surge in the provincial economy are all being cited as reasons for an increase in tourism in Edmonton, according to the Conference Board of Canada (CBOC).
CBOC said Edmonton saw a 3.5 per cent increase in overnight stays this year.
“Edmonton has always relied on a lot of sporting events, and I think this year is no exception,” the CBOC’s Greg Hermus said. “So we are looking at that contributing, as well as the free admission to national parks.” Hermus said that multiple events are expected to keep that trend going up next year.
To quote Hermus, “The new Royal Alberta Museum is scheduled to open, that will have an impact next year. You’ve got the volleyball championships for the next two years, and Red Bull Crashed Ice is coming there in 2018.”
Edmonton saw 3.3 million overnight visits this year and Hermus expects that to hit 3.5 million by 2020. And the most surprising numbers came from international tourists. According to the CBOC, Edmonton saw a 7.1 per cent increase in visitors coming from overseas. Mexico led the way with a 45.1 per cent increase in tourists coming to Canada. US tourists also comprised quite a significant number of tourists to Edmonton.
Tags: Tourism goes up in Edmonton