Minister Chagger celebrates the start of Tourism Week 2018 in Ottawa

Tourism Week celebrates Canadian tourism's record-setting 2017

OTTAWA, May 27, 2018 /CNW/ - Canada enjoyed its best tourism year ever in 2017, breaking old records. Now more than ever, it's clear that #TourismMatters.

As Tourism Week gets under way, the Honourable Bardish Chagger, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism, today congratulated Canada's tourism industry for making 2017 a historic year.

In 2017, tourism made a significant and record-breaking contribution to the Canadian economy: revenues from domestic and international travellers reached $97.4 billion. These revenues help support Canadian businesses and good middle-class jobs across the entire country.

The first quarter of 2018 is off to a promising start, with Canada enjoying its best first quarter ever for tourism. In the first three months of this year, the number of overnight visits by international travellers hit a record high of 3.1 million. In addition, China overtook the United Kingdom as the number-one source of international tourists to Canada—the first time it has topped the list.

This is very good news as we celebrate the Canada-China Year of Tourism this year. Our government has committed to doubling the number of Chinese visitors by 2025. The Canada-China Year of Tourism offers a tremendous opportunity to strengthen the people-to-people ties that connect our two countries and to grow Canada's tourism sector, which supports 1.8 million jobs from coast to coast to coast.

Throughout the coming week, Minister Chagger will join tourism industry stakeholders and representatives from the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and other tourism associations for a number of events in the nation's capital that celebrate Canadian tourism.

Tourism Week supports the goals of Canada's Tourism Vision, the Government of Canada's ambitious plan to grow the tourism sector and create good middle-class jobs for many years to come. Minister Chagger launched Canada's Tourism Vision one year ago, and the progress achieved to date has been remarkable: the number of international tourists to Canada grew by 4.4 percent in 2017. Thanks to collaboration throughout the federal government, as well as with Destination Canada, the provinces and territories, and the many hard-working small business owners who welcome international visitors, Canada is well on its way to achieving the tourism vision.

Quotes

"2017 was the best year ever for Canadian tourism. Tourism is a powerful economic driver in our communities. It accounts for one in ten Canadian jobs and is the leading employer of our youth. Our government knows that tourism matters. We are already seeing the results of the New Tourism Vision that we announced last year. From coast to coast to coast, we've seen incredible success in 2017 and an incredible start to 2018 as we celebrate the Canada-China Year of Tourism. Congratulations to all the members and partners of the Canadian tourism industry for an incredible year!"
– The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism

"As Canada's tourism industry enters the high season, TIAC is pleased to kick off Tourism Week, a nationwide celebration in which industry and stakeholders come together to celebrate the importance of tourism and discuss ways to strengthen our industry. Tourism currently contributes $97.4 billion to the economy, makes up 2 percent of Canada's GDP and is responsible for supporting 1.8 million jobs in every area of the country. Throughout this week, members of our association and tourism businesses across Canada will engage in collaborative activities and policy discussions to help us reach the goals of Canada's Tourism Vision and continue to move Canada's tourism sector forward."
­– Charlotte Bell, President and CEO, Tourism Industry Association of Canada

Quick facts

• The theme of this year's Tourism Week—an annual event organized by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada—is "Tourism Matters." With an all-time high of 20.8 million tourists visiting Canada in 2017, Canada's tourism industry has much to celebrate as, more than ever, tourism matters in our communities. 
• Tourism directly accounted for $41.2 billion of Canada's GDP in 2017, an increase of 6.3 percent over 2016.
• Tourism is Canada's number one service export, with international revenues reaching $21.3 billion in 2017.
• Canada was also recognized internationally by The New York Times, Lonely Planet, National Geographic Traveler and other influential travel media as the top spot to visit in 2017.
• Support for tourism in Budget 2018 includes $11 million for the 2018 Canada-China Year of Tourism.
• Budget 2018 also includes investments in other key areas such as parks, Indigenous heritage and culture, and Canada's regional development agencies.

Associated links

• Canada's Tourism Vision
• Canada-China Year of Tourism 2018
• Destination Canada
• Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada—Indigenous Itineraries
• Tourism Week

Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on Twitter: @ISED_CA

Follow Minister Chagger on Twitter: @MinofSBT

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Sandra Aubé, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Small Business and Tourism, 343-998-5328; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 343-291-1777, [email protected]