OTTAWA — The number of overnight visits from both within Canada and international markets is projected to increase by 2% in 2019, according to The Conference Board of Canada’s Travel Markets Outlook reports, released today.

The report says that while Canadian households are facing growing economic and financial challenges heading into 2019, domestic travel volumes are expected to increase.

According to the report, a growing share of Canadian households plan to take a winter vacation, and among those, a slightly higher share plan to stay in Canada for their longest-duration trip.

“Tourism activity in 2018 was weighed down by a number of factors, including rising travel prices, the weaker economic environment and lack of major events like those that happened in 2017,” said Greg Hermus, Associate Director for The Conference Board of Canada’s Canadian Tourism Research Institute. “Fortunately, 2019 should see stronger growth in tourism activity thanks to more modest increases in travel prices and easing uncertainty surrounding trade negotiations.”

Here’s a city-by-city rundown:

HALIFAX

Travel to Halifax should be boosted by the city’s hosting the 2019 Memorial Cup and the World Under-19 Men’s Floorball Championships. Overnight visits are projected to average 2% over the next few years.

MONTRÉAL

Tourist activity in 2019 will be stimulated by the city’s hosting of World Summit AI, a major artificial intelligence summit. Events like this, coupled with major infrastructure coming into service and an expanding local economy, will help overnight visits to grow at a healthy clip over the next few years, averaging 2.3% per year.

QUÉBEC CITY

Québec City saw a strong increase in overnight visits in 2018. With continuing gains expected from international arrivals, overnight visits should expand at annual rates of growth of around 2% over the next few years.

OTTAWA

The number of overnight visits to Ottawa fell in 2018 but should pick up this year, says The Conference Board of Canada, thanks in part to new infrastructure. Major investments such as renovations to the Ottawa International Airport terminal, and the addition of a light-rail station at the airport, “are expected to pay dividends in the years to come.”

TORONTO

Coming off a modest year, tourism activity in Toronto should pick up speed in 2019, according to the report. Overnight visits are projected to increase by 2.6% in 2019.

ST. CATHARINES-NIAGARA

Tourism activity in St. Catharines-Niagara region will benefit from the expanded direct air capacity in neighbouring Toronto. In all, overseas visits are expected to grow by a stronger 2.2% in 2019 and will increase at a steady pace over the next few years.

WINNIPEG

Following strong growth in 2018, overnight visits to Winnipeg are expected to moderate this year. Tourism activity should get a strong boost in 2020 as Manitoba celebrates the 150th anniversary of its joining Confederation.

CALGARY

Leisure travel will receive a boost with the city’s hosting the Grey Cup and the Canadian Country Music Awards in 2019. In all, overnight visits to Calgary are expected to grow by 2.8% this year.

EDMONTON

Edmonton will see growth of 2.3% in overnight this year. Domestic visits should get a boost as the city hosts a leg of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Mixed Relay Series and the World Triathlon Series.

VANCOUVER

The projected robust economic growth in the province and strong influx of tourists from overseas markets will continue to be the major sources of growth for tourism in Vancouver. In all, overnight visits are forecast to grow by 3.3% this year.