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Steady increases show continued importance of visitor economy

Visitation to the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) continued to increase with another record year in 2024, showcasing the continued resilience and growth of the region’s travel industry, Discover Halifax announced today.

The total number of room nights sold in hotels reached approximately 1,629,000 in 2024, up 2.6 per cent from the previous high in 2023. Year over year, steady increases mark significant progress being made to attract visitors to HRM, which helps to maximize the economic and social impact the industry has in our region.

“We’re thrilled to report that 2024 was another year of steady growth for our tourism economy,” says Ross Jefferson, President and CEO. “To compare, visitation to our destination had hit an all-time high in 2019, setting a new standard for our industry. The latest numbers for 2024 demonstrate remarkable strides in building the appeal of our destination and welcoming visitors to experience all we have to offer.”

Since 2019, the number of hotel room nights sold in HRM has grown 11.4 per cent, outpacing supply which has only grown eight per cent in the same period. With demand for the destination showing no signs of slowing, Discover Halifax has launched the next stage in a framework designed to guide the next five years of tourism planning, the Halifax Regional Integrated Tourism Master Plan 2030.

“Discover Halifax led the first-ever regional tourism plan for HRM in 2019, and thanks to the hard work and collective efforts of many community partners, we had a plan to steer the tourism economy through the tough years of the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Jefferson. “Now is the time to restart community-driven and community-focused conversations about the future, and create a balanced plan to ensure the tourism industry thrives for years to come.”

The community engagement process will include eight regional sessions across the municipality, in addition to an online survey for input. This engagement will help ensure that the updated plan reflects the values and priorities of all 210 communities in HRM, while addressing unique needs and opportunities within different parts of the region.

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