Canada’s tourism sector is booming, bringing in record numbers of international visitors in 2017 and 2018. It’s our number one service export and accounts for one in ten jobs.

“Our government knows that tourism helps every part of the country by creating good jobs for middle class families. We’ve seen many examples of how it transforms communities and diversifies their economies. That’s why we developed this strategy, which will stimulate growth in the tourism sector through new and ongoing investments. We are committed to diversifying and expanding our country’s tourism products and experiences to maximize the sector’s potential year-round from coast to coast to coast.”
 – The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

“New Brunswick’s visitor economy sustains over 3,600 small businesses and creates nearly 43,000 jobs in the province. Our province has so much to share with the world, from year-round outdoor adventure to great seafood and farm-to-table experiences, renowned music festivals, and diverse culture. The Federal Tourism Growth Strategy will expand on our tourism sector’s strengths by providing funding to develop or enhance authentic tourism products and experiences. This will empower communities throughout the province to play to their strengths regardless of location or season. I commend the countless tourism stakeholders in the province for their work and their input into this strategy. I look forward to seeing how it will impact the province by increasing visitors, strengthening our communities and growing the economy.”
– Alaina Lockhart, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

“Every year, visitors come from around the world to see our beautiful landscape, visit our vibrant community and experience our warm hospitality. As the Member of Parliament for Saint John–Rothesay, I am thrilled to see that our government has developed a Federal Tourism Growth Strategy that focuses on stimulating growth and diversifying the tourism sector by enhancing and developing the unique experiences that attract tourists year-round.”
– Wayne Long, Member of Parliament for Saint John–Rothesay

“Investing in tourism makes tremendous social and economic sense for our province. We have so much to offer visitors to our cities and rural communities. New Brunswick has world-renowned cuisine, arts and cultural events and some of the most beautiful coastlines in all of Canada. When we invest in tourism, we are investing in the well-being of our communities.”
– Karen Ludwig, Member of Parliament for New Brunswick Southwest

• Tourism represents more than 2% of Canada’s gross domestic product.

• Tourism supports more than 1.8 million jobs in Canada, with 56% of those being in rural areas.

• Total tourism revenues in 2018 from domestic and international travellers were $102.1 billion, an increase of 5.2% over 2017.

• In 2018, Canada welcomed a record 21.1 million international tourists, surpassing the previous year’s record of 20.9 million by 1.2%.

Associated links

• Tourism in Canada
• Budget 2019

Pavan Sapra
Office of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie
alaina.lockhart.a2@parl.gc.ca

Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
343-291-1777
ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca

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