Long ignored as a place between here and there, the Prairies are set for some attention in 2020.
According to Expedia, cities in very flat parts of Canada will be hot spots for American tourists this year. Leading the pack is Winnipeg, which saw a 465% increase in flight demand between January 1st and September 15th compared to the same time last year. The second-biggest increase?Saskatoon. The third? Regina. Then Calgary.
“We think U.S. travellers flocked to Canada this year for a variety of reasons: it’s relatively easy to get to, the exchange rate was favourable, plus there are just so many great outdoor activities to explore,” said Christie Hudson, head of PR for Expedia North America. That’s been true literally forever. Why the Prairies? Why now? Maybe American travellers have simply seen everything else already.
But even Canadians are enthralled by the middle of their country. Edmonton is the fastest-growing domestic destinations for Canadian travellers, followed by Winnipeg.
Internationally, Canadians are drawn to Spain, Germany, and Japan. Here are the top 10 travel hot spots overall for Canadians, including the most in-demand cities:
- 1. Spain & Canary Islands:Palma de Mallorca, Seville, Valencia, Malaga, Bilbao
2. Germany: Cologne, Hannover, Berlin, Munich, Dusseldorf
3. Japan: Sapporo, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Osaka
4. Italy: Palermo, Catania, Milan, Naples, Florence
5. Thailand: Phuket, Chiang Mai, Bangkok
6. Mexico: Cancun, Oaxaca, San Jose del Cabo, Veracruz , Queretaro, Puerto Vallarta
7. Portugal: Funchal, Ponta Delgada, Faro
8. India: Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Chennai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai
9. Switzerland: Zurich, Basel, Geneva
10. Poland: Katowice, Poznan, Warsaw