TORONTO — Explore Worldwide is celebrating record-breaking growth in the Canadian market, with July bookings tripling year-over-year as the tour operator wrapped up its “Tariff Timeout” promotion.

The campaign, which offered up to 20% off more than 300 small group tours from May through July, positioned Canada as one of the company’s fastest-growing markets.

More than half of the bookings were for trips departing within the next three months, reflecting strong demand for last-minute travel and immersive cultural experiences. “Canadians are clearly responding to the added value, flexibility and off-the-beaten-path style of travel that Explore offers,” says Katy Rockett, regional director of North America for Explore Worldwide. “This boost in bookings made it clear that Canadian travellers are looking for that balance between discovery and adventure, and they are ready to do it now.”

Portugal led the way as the most popular destination for Canadians during the campaign, with active travel itineraries such as ‘Remote Coastal Trails’ and ‘Walking in Madeira’ standing out. France, Italy and Spain followed closely behind as top choices, with walking and cycling trips in regions like the Loire Valley and Amalfi Coast highlighting a preference for slower-paced, scenic journeys.

Explore also reported significant growth in bookings for its cultural discovery tours, which rose 152% compared to the previous year. Canadians showed heightened interest in destinations beyond Western Europe, including Armenia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

The company’s results underline a growing trend in the Canadian market for flexible, active and culturally rich travel experiences, with many travellers ready to depart on short notice.

For more details, visit www.exploreworldwide.ca.