New report reveals what’s stopping more people from visiting downtown Victoria

Downtown Victoria recorded more than 44 million visits in 2025, according to a newly released report examining business conditions, public perceptions and economic activity in the city’s core.

Despite the strong visitation numbers and several positive economic indicators, concerns about safety, parking and traffic continue to shape how many residents and businesses view downtown.

Released Monday, the Downtown Victoria Business Association’s (DVBA) 2026 Annual Report on Downtown combines data from the association’s annual member survey, a public opinion poll conducted by Research Co. and information from various local and regional organizations.

Among the report’s findings, downtown Victoria recorded 44.3 million visits in 2025, while hotels and lodging providers achieved an average occupancy rate of 78%, up from 75% the previous year.

Nearly one million cruise ship passengers also visited Greater Victoria in 2025, while 2,631 business licences were issued in Victoria last year.

The report also points to signs of economic stability, including a decline in retail vacancy rates from 11% in 2025 to 9.6% in 2026.

Business confidence showed modest improvement as well, with 41.5% of surveyed business representatives saying they would renew their lease if it came up for renewal within the next year, compared with 39.4% in 2025.

Despite those positive indicators, concerns related to safety, parking and transportation continue to dominate responses from both businesses and residents.

According to a public survey of 1,168 Greater Victoria residents conducted in April, 61% of infrequent downtown visitors said not feeling safe was one of the top reasons they do not visit more often.

Parking and ease of driving were also frequently cited concerns, with 70% of infrequent visitors identifying each as a factor limiting their visits downtown.

Among people who visit downtown at least once a week, 51% said they were moderately or very dissatisfied with safety, while 45% expressed dissatisfaction with parking and 55% reported dissatisfaction with the ease of driving to and around downtown.

The DVBA’s survey of 544 downtown business owners, operators and property owners found businesses continue to view public drug use, vandalism, property damage and traffic flow as some of the biggest challenges facing the downtown core.

Respondents gave downtown Victoria a collective grade of C+ as a place to do business.

Open drug use in public spaces was identified as the top issue affecting downtown as a place for business, followed by vandalism and property damage.

The report also found that 65.6% of business respondents felt recent steps taken to improve safety were positive, but said they had not yet noticed a meaningful difference in overall safety and security downtown.

At the same time, the public survey found downtown continues to receive high marks for walkability, restaurants, culture and events.

Among weekly visitors, 91% reported a positive experience with downtown’s walkability and 89% cited the variety of restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs as a positive aspect of the area.

In a media release accompanying the report, DVBA CEO Jeff Bray said the findings show both progress and ongoing challenges.

“This report highlights some improvements in economic performance and increased police and bylaw presence,” said Bray.

“It also highlights the continuing frustration that many businesses have dealing with street disorder and vehicle capacity issues, such as reduced vehicle lanes and parking.”

While downtown continues to attract visitors and investment, the report suggests concerns around safety, parking and traffic remain top of mind for many people.