‘Visitors are delighted’: Montreal sees increase in tourism

Visitors seem to be delighted with their stay in Montreal as the city is seeing an increase in tourism and standing out with a “satisfaction level” of 93 per cent, according to a recent Léger survey with Tourisme Montréal.

“Our sales and business teams are successfully attracting major conventions,” said Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal. “While our support for festivals and events has remarkably energized the cultural scene.”

They reported that there was an increase in the number of visitors to the metropolis, with a nearly 7 per cent rise compared to 2023.

This growth, Tourisme Montréal said, reflects the growing appeal of the destination, particularly among Canadians and Americans, with both groups showing increases of 6 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively.

“With over 10 million visits to our website and approximately 30 million Google queries related to ‘travel Montreal’ in 2024, it’s clear that interest in Montreal continues to grow,” explained Lalumière. “We will continue to highlight our 1,040 members and, more broadly, the entire tourism sector to enhance the city’s appeal and international reach.”

2024 in Numbers

• The new air route between Montréal and Seoul proved successful, leading to a 63 per cent growth in the number of Koreans visiting the city.
• China made a strong comeback, they said recording a 46 per cent increase despite the absence of a direct flight to Montreal.
• Japan continues to show sustained interest, with a 16 per cent increase.
• Tourism from French-speaking countries, particularly from the Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia), saw a robust 19 per cent growth in Montreal, while France experienced a 3 per cent increase.

According to the survey, nearly 90 per cent of respondents plan to revisit the city.

Visitors rate nearly all aspects of their experience, including hospitality, urban experience, accessibility, and safety, at over 80 per cent satisfaction.

Tourisme Montréal added that the number of hotel rooms grew by 2 per cent, reaching a total of 23,000 rooms, while the hotel occupancy rate in Montreal remained stable at 71.2 per cent.

Tourisme Montréal said that they are particularly pleased to observe the continued growing interest from tourists during Montreal’s winter season.

Adding that the number of visitors to the city between Dec. 15, 2024, and March 15, 2025, is expected to increase by 9.2 per cent compared to the previous winter season, which already saw a growth of 5.6 per cent.

“Montreal does not only attract visitors,” they said in the release. “It encourages them to return.”