Destination Greater Victoria (DGV) is celebrating another successful year of tourism in the region.
Not only did the industry grow over the past year but it did so at an exceptional rate, leading B.C. in many metrics.
“As proud as we are, it’s important to acknowledge 2024 was a year of transition," said Destination Greater Victoria CEO Paul Nursey. "Challenges such as the implementation of the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act and mixed news from the cruise sector have influenced performance in some sectors.”
This year saw sports tourism thrive in the region with many successful events from January’s Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada to the CFL’s Touchdown Pacific. DGV also highlighted a good year for business tourism with a stronger year yet to come.
“Conference and meetings business was strong throughout 2024," said Nursey. "Looking ahead, 2025 is on track to be a strong year with near-record bookings for city-wide conferences."
Victoria received many other accolades throughout the year, including top honours in Conde Nast Travellers 2024 Readers' Choice Awards, as the best small city in the world - an accolade Victoria has now claimed two years in a row. Victoria was also placed as the most sustainable destination in North America on the Global Destination Sustainability Index.
Overall, according to DGV while there were challenges, the industry is recovering, and looks like it will continue to do so.
“As a destination, our foundation and pillars are strong. We have a world-leading brand, offer excellent experiences, and have a solid base of meetings, sports, and incentive business,” said Nursey.
