Kelowna 
Parks Canada says the places it administers continue to play a major role in Canada’s tourism economy, with new figures showing record visitation and wider benefits for communities, conservation and public health.
Credit: Parks Canada
In 2025-26, Parks Canada welcomed 26.2 million visitors from more than 100 countries. Those visitors spent $6.5 billion in communities in or near national parks and national historic sites. According to Parks Canada, that spending contributed $5.9 billion directly to Canada’s GDP, equal to about $16 million a day across the country.
The agency says that marks a 45 per cent increase since 2023. It points in part to the Canada Strong Pass, which offers free admission to Parks Canada administered places and a 25 per cent discount on camping and roofed accommodations.
The economic impact extends beyond visitor spending. Parks Canada says its administered sites have supported about 59,000 full-time jobs, generated $3.4 billion in labour income and returned $839 million in taxes to communities.
The release also links these places to health and environmental benefits. Parks Canada estimates that access to its sites helps save about $30 million a year in health-care costs by supporting physical and mental health.
On conservation, Parks Canada says protected and conserved areas in Canada store about 51,400 gigatonnes of carbon, with an estimated societal value of more than $51 trillion in avoided climate damages. It also estimates that ecosystem services in Parks Canada places, including climate regulation, nutrient cycling, waste treatment, pest control and disease control, may be worth $372 billion annually.
Parks Canada’s network includes 171 national historic sites, 48 national parks, six national marine conservation areas and one national urban park. Together, they provide services in more than 200 locations across every province and territory.
The Canada Strong Pass will again offer free admission to Parks Canada-operated national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas, along with a 25 per cent camping discount, from June 19 to September 7, 2026
