Amusement and recreation industry, 2025

Released: 2026-11-03

Continued demand lifts amusement and recreation subsector to new heights in 2025 

Businesses operating in the amusement and recreation subsector earned $18.0 billion in 2025, up 8.1% from the previous year. Operators in the amusement parks and arcades industry group saw revenue grow by 3.1% to $1.1 billion in 2025, while the other amusement and recreation industry group saw revenues increase 8.5% to $16.9 billion.

Fitness and recreational sports centres achieve new personal best

Fitness and recreational sports centres generated $6.1 billion in operating revenue in 2025, up 9.4% from 2024. This growth was driven in part by increasing demand for fitness services, which supported a rising number of businesses operating within the industry. The number of fitness and recreational sports centres operating in Canada (with employees) was 6.0% higher in December 2025 compared with the same month one year earlier.

Operating expenses rose 7.0% from 2024 to reach $5.4 billion in 2025. With operating expenses growing at a slower rate than operating revenues, the operating profit margin for fitness and recreational sports centres increased to 12.7% in 2025. This was the fifth consecutive year that the operating profit margin increased in the industry.

The majority of operating expenses in 2025 came from salaries, wages and benefits (38.1%); rental and leasing (17.6%); and amortization and depreciation (7.0%).

Increasing popularity of golf drives growth in the golf courses and country clubs industry

Golf courses and country clubs have seen renewed growth since the COVID-19 pandemic, supported by increased participation and sustained interest in the sport. In 2025, participation in golf was 36.4% higher than in 2019, prior to the pandemic, while industry operating revenues increased 68.9% over the same period.

In 2025, operating revenues of golf courses and country clubs reached a record high of $4.5 billion, up 8.9% from 2024. Operating expenses also rose, increasing 8.1% to $4.0 billion in 2025, resulting in an operating profit margin of 10.3%.

Salaries, wages and benefits for golf courses and country clubs rose by 9.9% to $1.7 billion in 2025. This was the fastest growing expense category by dollar value in the year, accounting for just over half (51.2%) of the total increase in operating expenses.

Canadian ski industry reaches new peaks in 2025

Following the 2023/2024 ski season, which saw Canadian operators post lower revenues amid poor snow conditions, the 2024/2025 ski season marked a return to growth. According to the Canadian Ski Council, the number of skier visits in Canada increased to 19.5 million during the 2024/2025 ski season, up from 17.9 million in the previous season.

Increased participation and more favourable operating conditions contributed to higher operating revenues, which reached $1.6 billion in 2025, up 12.7% from 2024. The largest dollar value increases in 2025 were observed in Quebec (+$59.2 million) and British Columbia (+$54.2 million).

At the national level, operating expenses for ski facilities grew by 8.4% to $1.4 billion in 2025, widening the operating profit margin to 14.3%. Salaries, wages and benefits climbed by 11.3% to $606.9 million.

Looking ahead

Increased weather volatility in 2026 could have dampening effects on activities at outdoor recreational facilities, such as golf courses, amusement parks and ski hills.

At the same time, stronger tourism activity may buoy the subsector, as international visitors drove growth in tourism spending in the second quarter of 2026. Through the first two quarters of 2026, tourism expenditures on recreation and entertainment were 2.9% higher than during the same period in 2025.

The complete financial portrait for the 2026 reference year will highlight how the amusement and recreation subsector was affected by these factors.

Contact information

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