MOOSE JAW — Moose Jaw’s tourism sector is seeing a significant boost this summer, with more Canadian travellers choosing to explore destinations closer to home — and the Friendly City is reaping the benefits.
According to Tourism Moose Jaw, trolley ticket sales have increased by 85 per cent compared to the same period last year. Executive director Donna Fritzke attributed part of the success to the introduction of all-new trolley tours for the 2025 season.
“We are up 85 per cent in sales for the trolley compared to last year. We’ve had every province and territory in Canada visit (Moose Jaw),” Fritzke said in a written statement.
Visitor data shows that approximately 80 per cent of tourists to Moose Jaw this season are from Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba, with half coming from within Saskatchewan alone. Guests have also travelled from 23 different U.S. states, as well as countries such as the United Kingdom, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Netherlands.
Tourism Moose Jaw has recorded more than 2,500 visitors at the local visitor centre in July, with hundreds more stopping in just to see Mac the Moose — one of the city’s best-known landmarks.
Fritzke also noted an increase in American visitors this summer, many of whom were travelling to family reunions, passing through on their way to the Rocky Mountains, or continuing west toward the coast.
The strong turnout from regional travellers coincides with a broader national trend: many Canadians are reducing or cancelling international travel plans due to rising costs, economic uncertainty, and the U.S. tariffs imposed on Canadian goods under the Trump administration alongside travel concerns south of the border. For Moose Jaw, that shift means more tourism dollars are staying local.
While international travel is down, domestic interest in small-city destinations like Moose Jaw appears to be growing — a welcome development for the city’s hotels, restaurants, retailers and cultural attractions.
Tourism Moose Jaw expects the momentum to continue into the fall, with a variety of events and promotions such as the upcoming Midwest Shrine Association’s summer convention planned to attract off-season visitors and keep the local economy strong.
For more information, visit TourismMooseJaw.com, call 306-693-8097, or stop by the Tourism Moose Jaw kiosk at 450 Diefenbaker Drive.
