Vancouver prepares to offset post‑World Cup tourism slump

Destination Vancouver CEO Royce Chwin says the city is working to avoid the “great sigh” – a tourism lull that can follow a major event – after the FIFA World Cup concludes. Vancouver hosted seven matches, and officials have booked conferences and cultural events to start immediately after the final on July 7.

Chwin noted mixed outcomes for local businesses, with sports bars seeing higher sales while some others missed out. Hotel occupancy in downtown Vancouver was 75% during the tournament, down from a 91% peak the previous year. The Vancouver Airport Authority reported roughly 2.8 million passengers (about 86,000 per day) from June 8 to July 10, a 5‑10% increase over the same period last year. Transit usage rose by more than 600,000 boardings region‑wide, and SkyTrain stations near BC Place saw ridership jump 54% on match days.

The city aims to capitalise on the event’s momentum to sustain visitor numbers in the years ahead.