Calgary 
Alberta is positioning itself as Canada’s premier wellness tourism destination, with a surge of new retreats, spas, and cultural experiences set to reshape its travel landscape.
Credit: Basin Glacial Waters Spa
Last year, visitors spent a record $14 billion in the province. Now, with a target of $25 billion in annual visitor spending by 2035, the province is investing heavily in projects designed to attract travellers seeking rest, rejuvenation, and connection to nature.
The government has committed $72 million in 2025 to Travel Alberta for marketing, investment attraction, and investor services, fuelling the expansion of high-profile wellness developments. Among them is Edmonton’s forthcoming Scandinave Spa, projected to create 330 temporary and 52 permanent jobs, with an estimated $121 million economic impact over its first decade.
In Canmore and Banff, three major openings are planned, including the Alexander Spa Hotel, bringing over 100 full-time jobs and combining luxury accommodation with wellness activities like yoga and guided hikes. Lake Louise will welcome the Basin Glacial Waters Spa in September 2025, while Basecamp Wildwood Spa is set for November 2025.
Indigenous-led tourism is adding a distinctive dimension to this growth. Just 90 minutes west of Edmonton, The Woods Experience offers tipi and cabin stays alongside a wilderness spa, now expanding to include a Métis trapline experience and upgraded amenities such as a wood-fired hot tub, sauna, and forest-view fire lounge.
Andrew Boitchenko, Alberta’s Minister of Tourism and Sport, says the wave of investment is “creating long-term economic opportunities and prosperity for communities across Alberta,” while Travel Alberta’s Jon Mamela sees these projects as proof the province is “well on its way to becoming a top economic driver for the country.”
