The Great Canadian Getaway Gap

A new survey released by GoRVing revealed that despite the desire to travel, most Canadians haven’t left their home province. 

The survey, by Fuse Insights, polled 1,001 adult Canadian residents in English and French during the month of May 2025. It found that things vary a bit from region to region, but overall, Canadians are mainly homebodies; 43 percent of us have yet to travel to another province. 

It isn’t a lack of wanting. The survey found that nearly 8 in 10 respondents say they are interested in exploring Canada. What’s holding them back? 42 per cent say it's because they just don't know where to go, while 64 per cent admit they simply haven't gotten around to planning a trip yet. 

The survey results failed to mention to what extent cost plays a factor. With high domestic travel costs and many families struggling, it seems likely that a discrepancy between desire to travel and actually travelling could be down to the fact that a vacation is a luxury some cannot afford.

Related: Oh Canada… On a Budget? Survey Says Cheaper Travel Would Boost Domestic Trips

For those who have been able to plan a trip this year, almost 65 percent are going to stay in Canada.  "It's inspiring to see so much patriotism among Canadians this year, especially when it comes to supporting domestic travel and local businesses," says Chris Mahony, President of Go RVing Canada. "But it's surprising how many of us haven't truly experienced all that Canada has to offer. We're challenging Canadians to turn that patriotic spirit into action this year—get out there, hit the road, and explore this incredible country for yourself."

Here are some highlights from the survey about how things break down according to province:

• Ontario leads the pack as the most sought-after province for Canadians to visit. More than one-third of Canadian travellers are planning to visit the province for their domestic getaway. Quebec is second, with over one in four planning to explore "La Belle Province," followed by British Columbia, attracting a quarter of domestic travellers.
• Quebeckers are staying put. With 78 percent planning their domestic getaway within Quebec, residents of the province are the most likely in the country to stay close to home for their domestic travel plans. For those venturing beyond provincial borders, top destinations include Ontario (18 percent) and New Brunswick (13 percent).
• British Columbians and Ontarians stay local…until they don't! About 70 percent of residents in each province planning a Canadian vacation are opting for a staycation within their borders this year.  But once they hit the road, they go big: roughly 20 percent from both provinces are planning cross-country trips for a Canadian vacation, with B.C. residents eyeing Ontario and vice versa.
• Albertans are the most adventurous. Just 55 per cent plan to travel within Alberta when it comes to domestic travel—the lowest staycation rate in the country—while 43 per cent are looking beyond provincial borders – B.C. (34 percent) and Ontario (23 percent) top Albertans' Canadian travel wish lists.

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