Downtown Vancouver is growing, but fewer people are visiting. According to a new report from the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, foot traffic dropped by 7.8 per cent in 2024, the first decline in visitors since the pandemic recovery began in 2020. Read More
Fewer locals are visiting downtown. The Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association says the main culprit is the rising cost of living
Fewer locals are visiting downtown. The Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association says the main culprit is the rising cost of living
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Downtown Vancouver is growing, but fewer people are visiting. According to a new report from the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, foot traffic dropped by 7.8 per cent in 2024, the first decline in visitors since the pandemic recovery began in 2020.
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The annual State Of The City report, released Thursday, analyzed mobile phone data and other sources to track movement in the region. It found that while the downtown population climbed faster than that of any city or region in Canada, the number of visits to the 90-block area fell to 106 million last year.
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Jane Talbot, CEO of the Business Improvement Association representing 8,000 businesses and property owners in Vancouver’s downtown core, attributes the drop to several factors — most notably the rising cost of living.
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“Inflation is a big factor. Everything is more expensive. When people cut back, they do so in the areas that need the most support right now, like restaurants and shopping downtown,” she said Thursday.
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The report attributed the decline in downtown visits primarily to fewer locals coming into the city core.
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Visits from city residents dropped by 12 per cent, the sharpest decline among all Metro Vancouver municipalities. The share of local visitors fell to 50.4 per cent from 52.9 per cent in 2023, while surrounding municipalities such as West Vancouver, North Vancouver and Burnaby also saw fewer people heading downtown.
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Stephen Kim, co-owner of Bicycle Sports Pacific, near Hornby and Burrard streets, said he has witnessed those shifts firsthand.
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“We’re seeing more clients keeping their existing bikes and figuring out how they can fix them, asking us for repairs and service, instead of buying new ones,” said Kim. “If we just sat down and did nothing, our front door wouldn’t open nearly enough for me to generate revenue to employ my team.”
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Despite the overall downturn in foot traffic, the report indicated visitors from outside the province have helped soften the impact.
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Travellers from other parts of Canada surged by 50.3 per cent, with Calgary emerging as the largest source of non-B.C. visitors. More Calgarians visited downtown Vancouver than residents of Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge and the Township of Langley combined.
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To capitalize on this influx, Kim has expanded his bike rental services and partnered with other Metro Vancouver businesses to attract more customers.
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“I’ve partnered with Wildeye Brewing, so that if customers buy a Fox Racing product, their first sleeve of beer is on them,” Kim said. “We’re working hard to share customers and drive new ones to other businesses.”
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