Data released by Discover Halifax shows the total number of overnight stays in the region are up 9.4 per cent in 2019 compared to 2018.
February 6, 2020 – Halifax, Nova Scotia: Data released by Discover Halifax shows the total number of overnight stays in the region are up 9.4 per cent in 2019 compared to 2018. Traditional hotel room stays increased 3.9 per cent while room nights sold, according to AirDNA, increased 33 per cent. The non-profit destination marketing organization tracks bookings at hotels and other accommodations with approximately 5.3 million overnight stays in the region each year with people spending $1.3 billion, locally.
“Tourism is an industry that is growing globally, and this is the seventh consecutive year Halifax’s tourism sector has seen an increase in terms of the number of overnight stays,” said Ross Jefferson, president & CEO of Discover Halifax. “This continued growth shows Halifax is really competing as a world-class destination. Smart cities are looking for ways to manage growth, so it benefits everyone.”
Managing growth is one of the goals of Halifax’s integrated tourism master plan that is expected to be released in Spring, 2020. Discover Halifax is leading the project as a collaborative effort involving many partners, including support from the Halifax Regional Municipality. The plan is focused on helping spread the economic benefits of tourism throughout the region, including all 210+ communities.
The integrated tourism master plan will contribute to Halifax’s Economic Growth plan and its goal to grow the GDP to $30 billion by 2031. It will also support the province’s goal to grow the tourism industry to $4 billion by 2024. Currently, 54 per cent of all tourists who come to Nova Scotia visit the Halifax region.
“Halifax has tremendous potential for economic growth through tourism,” said Jefferson. “We know that if we do the right things to make our communities an even better place to live, it will also be a better place to visit.”
| 2018 (Actual YTD) | 2019 (Actual YTD) | % change | |
| Total overnight stays | 1,735,133 | 1,897,933 | 9.4% |
| Room nights sold (traditional hotels) | 1,409,484 | 1,464,039 | 3.9% |
| Room nights sold (Sharing economy) | 325,649 | 433,894 | 33% |
| Cruise ship passengers | 316,859 | 323,709 | 2.2% |
| Air travel (enplaned / deplaned passengers) | 4,316,079 | 4,188,443 | -3.0% |
*Traditional hotel rooms are tracked through Smith Travel Research (STR). Rooms booked private rental accommodations are tracked through AirDNA. Cruise ship data is provided by Port of Halifax and airline travel from Halifax International Airport.
-30-
About Discover Halifax
Discover Halifax is non-profit, membership-based marketing and sales organization in partnership with the Halifax regional government, the Hotel Association of Nova Scotia and participating industry members. Since its inception in 2002, Discover Halifax’s goal is to promote Halifax as a destination of choice for leisure and business travellers.
Halifax welcomes 5.3 million overnight stays each year, who spend over $1 billion. Halifax alone represents over 54% of all visitation to Nova Scotia, and 34,000 people are employed in the tourism industry.
Media Contact:
Monica MacLean,
Communications director
Discover Halifax
mmaclean@discoverhalifaxns.com
902-401-2308