AN INCREASE IN TOURISM? 

And an increase in tourist dollars injected into our economy? 

It ain't necessarily so.

Alto claims that there will be a big increase in tourist dollars spent in Canada, thanks to the high-speed rail system.

However, that's not always what happens in other countries.

"High-Speed Rail could have negative impacts on tourism by potentially reducing the length of trips (e.g., fewer hotel nights and tourism taxes)."  

(From: "Economic Impacts of High-Speed Rail: A Review" by the Mineta Transportation Institute, 2022.  See a copy of this paper below.)

More from that article:

One study, in England, found that "few cities experienced an increase in tourism due to High-Speed Rail."

A research article, looking at many cities, compared 13 case studies in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK.  The tourist spending was not impressive.

These thoughts come from studies done in Spain and France, which have extensive High-Speed Rail networks.

Yes, Alto could perhaps increase brief days of tourist spending in Toronto, Montreal, and the other 5 cities on the Alto route. 

But not in the rest of Canada. And not in all the cities in Ontario and Quebec that aren't on the Alto route.

The benefit to the economy probably won't be impressive.

So don't build a new hotel – it won't get much business.