Toronto Overtakes Calgary and More in Fuelling Canada Tourism With a Surge in Tourist Arrivals From Mexico in 2026

Toronto overtakes Calgary and more destinations in fuelling Canada tourism in 2026 as a surge in tourist arrivals from Mexico strengthens demand across major Canadian gateways. Driven by stronger air connectivity, diverse visitor experiences, growing international travel interest and expanding tourism opportunities, Toronto Pearson recorded eight consecutive months of Mexican arrival growth, while Calgary and Ottawa also achieved significant gains. The rising Mexican market highlights how Canadian cities are attracting more global travellers and spreading visitor spending across urban, cultural and adventure destinations.

Toronto: Pearson Delivers Eight Straight Months of Mexican Growth as Canada’s Biggest City Pulls More Visitors

Toronto is emerging as a powerful gateway for Mexican travellers in 2026, with Toronto Pearson recording positive year-on-year Mexican arrivals in every month from January through August. Growth reached 23.8% in January, 17.3% in February and a striking 43.6% in March. Even after moderating to 3.2% in April, arrivals remained ahead of 2025 before accelerating 23.2% in May, 11.4% in June, 13.2% in July and 24% in August. July produced the eight-month high of 14,425 arrivals, followed by 12,840 in August. Toronto had already welcomed more than 83,000 Mexican visitors in 2023, generating approximately C$132 million in spending, highlighting the established value of this market to the city’s visitor economy.

Toronto’s wider tourism strength provides a powerful foundation for that growth. The city welcomed a record 28.2 million visitors in 2025, generating C$9.1 billion in direct visitor spending and nearly C$13.5 billion in economic impact. International arrivals were among the fastest-growing segments, increasing 8% to 1.4 million. For Mexican visitors, Toronto combines shopping, international cuisine, entertainment, neighbourhood culture and major attractions with access to Niagara Falls and Ontario’s wider tourism circuit. Mexican interest in food, fine dining, shopping and premium experiences also fits naturally with Toronto’s increasingly diverse tourism offer, helping the city turn its position as Canada’s largest aviation gateway into sustained visitor growth.

Calgary: Mexican Arrivals More Than Double as Rockies Gateway Builds International Momentum

Calgary has delivered the most dramatic early-year Mexican growth among the three airports. Mexican arrivals increased 69% year on year in January and 66.1% in February before surging 102.5% in March. Growth remained positive at 17% in April, 28.2% in May and 2.9% in June before accelerating again to 17.7% in July and 18.2% in August. Monthly volume reached 3,639 arrivals in July before easing to 2,571 in August. The eight-month run is particularly significant because Mexico is an important international market for Calgary, giving the Alberta gateway another source of sustained inbound tourism demand.

Calgary’s broader tourism economy is expanding at the same time. The city welcomed more than 10.5 million visitors in 2025 and generated C$3.3 billion in visitor spending. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, visitor spending reached C$581.9 million, up 7%, while international visitor spending climbed 15.6%. International passenger traffic through Calgary International Airport also increased 9.6%. Calgary gives Mexican visitors a distinctive combination of modern city experiences, Western culture and access to the Canadian Rockies. Banff, mountain landscapes, outdoor adventure, festivals and cooler summer conditions broaden its appeal, while the airport’s role as a western Canadian gateway makes Calgary a natural starting point for longer Alberta itineraries.

Ottawa: Canada’s Capital Turns Smaller Mexican Volumes Into Eight Months of Powerful Growth

Ottawa’s absolute numbers are much smaller than Toronto or Calgary, but its percentage growth makes it one of the most interesting emerging Mexican markets in the data. Mexican arrivals increased 61.4% year on year in January, 38.2% in February and 30.8% in March. April maintained growth of 29.5% before May produced the biggest surge at 106.5%. Momentum remained exceptionally strong in June at 69.1% and July at 76.3%. Even August, the weakest annual comparison of the period, remained 15% above 2025. That gives Ottawa an impressive record of eight consecutive months of positive growth without a single year-on-year contraction.

Canada’s capital offers Mexican visitors a tourism experience very different from the country’s largest commercial cities. Parliament Hill, national museums, galleries, the Rideau Canal and the city’s English-French character give Ottawa a strong cultural identity, while extensive cycling routes, green spaces and winter activities broaden its appeal. Its location also makes Ottawa useful for multi-city eastern Canada itineraries connecting Toronto, Montréal and other destinations. The relatively small arrival base means large percentage increases should be interpreted carefully, but eight uninterrupted months of growth indicate that Ottawa is attracting increasing attention within the Mexican visitor market.

Toronto Leads in Volume While Calgary and Ottawa Deliver Faster Percentage Growth

The three cities tell different parts of Canada’s Mexican tourism story. Toronto Pearson dominates in absolute numbers, reaching 14,425 Mexican arrivals in July and 12,840 in August. Calgary is considerably smaller but recorded extraordinary early-year growth, including a 102.5% increase in March. Ottawa remains a niche market by volume, yet its year-on-year increase never dropped below 15% across the eight months.

Together, the numbers suggest Mexican demand is reaching different parts of Canada’s tourism economy rather than concentrating exclusively in its largest gateway. Toronto offers scale, entertainment and urban diversity. Calgary combines city tourism with the Canadian Rockies. Ottawa adds national history, culture and a distinctive capital-city experience.

This diversification could become increasingly valuable for Canadian tourism. It gives Mexican travellers more reasons to explore several destinations within one journey while spreading international visitor spending across Ontario and Alberta rather than concentrating it at a single Canadian gateway.

Toronto overtakes Calgary and more in fuelling Canada tourism in 2026 as a surge in tourist arrivals from Mexico, supported by stronger connectivity, diverse experiences and rising travel demand, drives growth across Canadian destinations.

In conclusion, Toronto overtakes Calgary and more destinations in fuelling Canada tourism in 2026 as a sustained surge in tourist arrivals from Mexico strengthens the country’s international visitor economy. Toronto’s strong arrival growth, combined with Calgary’s rapid expansion and Ottawa’s consistent performance, shows that Mexican travel demand is spreading across multiple Canadian gateways. Improved air connectivity, diverse city experiences, cultural attractions, outdoor adventures and stronger tourism offerings are encouraging more visitors to explore Canada. Together, these trends highlight how Toronto, Calgary and more destinations are contributing to a stronger, more diversified Canada tourism landscape in 2026.