Tourism Nova Scotia gathers and reports tourism statistics on behalf of the tourism industry. These statistics help inform our decision-making, help describe visitors to Nova Scotia, and can be used by tourism businesses and organizations for planning and business development. As tourism indicators are compiled from several sources, data becomes available at different times. Tourism Nova Scotia reports the most up-to-date statistics available so reporting timelines for each indicator may differ.
2024 Visitation to Nova Scotia - January to September
Year-to-date September 2024, Nova Scotia welcomed just over 1.6 million visitors, down 2% (36,000 fewer visitors) compared with the first nine months of 2023. Visitation to Nova Scotia remains below 2019 levels and is down by 13% (235,000 fewer visitors) compared with the same period in 2019.
1 million visitors arrived by road (down 6% compared with the same period in 2023 and down 20% compared with 2019). 615,000 visitors arrived by air, an increase of 5% compared with January to September 2023, and up 2% from the same period of 2019.
Nova Scotia continues to see slower recovery in visitation from Atlantic Canada, with visitation from Atlantic Canada down by 3% in the first nine months of 2024 (21,000 fewer visitors) compared with 2023. Visitation from Atlantic Canada remains well below 2019 levels, down by 25%, or 214,000 fewer visitors.
Following strong growth in 2023, visitation from Ontario has softened somewhat in 2024, with the province welcoming, 489,000 visitors from Ontario, a decrease of 6% (31,000 fewer visitors) compared with 2023 and an increase of 1% (6,000 more visitors) compared with the same period in 2019. Ontario remains the most important source of visitors after Atlantic Canada, and accounts for 30% of all visitors to Nova Scotia.
Visitation from Quebec also declined, with 87,000 visitors arriving so far this year, a 4% decrease (or 4,000 fewer visitors) compared with 2023, and down 9% or 8,000 fewer visitors compared with the same period in 2019.
Nova Scotia saw a 4% increase in visitors from Western Canada (6,000 more visitors) versus 2023, and a 17% increase (26,000 more visitors) compared with 2019.
Internationally, Nova Scotia saw strong growth in visitation from the United States compared with 2023, with 152,000 visitors arriving from the United States (an increase of 12% from 2023, or 17,000 more visitors). Visitation from this market remains well below 2019 levels (down 25% versus 2019, or 49,000 fewer visitors).
73,000 visitors arrived from overseas markets so far in 2024, down 4% from 2023 (3,000 fewer visitors), but remaining above 2019 (up 7%, or 5,000 more visitors).
Non-resident Visitors to Nova Scotia:
About Visitation Statistics
Visitation statistics are compiled from a variety of sources, including:
- In-person surveys administered to passengers at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport
- Motor vehicle enumeration at the Nova Scotia – New Brunswick border
- Passenger information from ferry operators
- The Nova Scotia Visitor Exit Survey
- Data from Halifax International Airport Authority
- Visitor data from provincial and community visitor information centres
- Cruise passenger data from Halifax Port Authority and Sydney Ports Corporation
- Attendance data from select tourism operators
These statistics reflect the combined efforts of tourism businesses, organizations, communities, and governments, and include activities by both Nova Scotians and non-resident visitors. There are many factors that contribute to tourism industry performance including events, weather, gas prices, air capacity, currency fluctuations, geo-political circumstances, and industry initiatives such as marketing. Tourism Nova Scotia is just one organization among many contributing to tourism growth. We support tourism growth through marketing in key national and international markets, support for experience and business development, and visitor servicing. For more information about Tourism Nova Scotia's strategy and performance, please see Plans & Reports.