The Government of Canada wants to hear from Canadian tourism stakeholders from coast to coast to coast as it charts the path forward for the sector. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada is conducting a public consultation on the development of a post-pandemic Federal Tourism Growth Strategy. The consultation period has been extended to August 3, 2022.
Context
In 2019, the Government of Canada launched Creating Middle Class Jobs: A Federal Tourism Growth Strategy. The objective of the strategy was to unleash tourism’s potential to drive economic growth and job creation in all regions of the country.
The context in which that strategy was drafted is very different from today’s. Canada’s tourism sector was booming, bringing in record numbers of international visitors in 2017 and 2018 and accounting for one in ten jobs. The strategy was designed to build on this momentum.
However, the Canadian tourism sector was uniquely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. From its onset, tourism workers and businesses felt the full impact of public health measures and border closures. Despite the challenges, the tourism and hospitality sector was resilient, and it remains a key economic driver and job creator, especially for young and for rural Canadians. Thanks in part to an estimated $23 billion in support provided through the federal government’s emergency programs, the sector has survived and retains its potential as an important driver of economic growth, jobs and prosperity for communities all across the country.
A New Post-Pandemic Federal Tourism Growth Strategy
As Budget 2022 notes, Canada’s high vaccination rates and the lifting of travel restrictions are providing important relief as the sector begins to turn the corner.
To continue supporting Canada’s tourism sector and help bolster its recovery, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, will work with tourism businesses, provincial and territorial counterparts, and Indigenous tourism partners to develop a post-pandemic Federal Tourism Growth Strategy that will plot a course for growth, investment and stability.
The Government of Canada launched the formal engagement period to develop the new strategy on May 18, 2022. It will build on the work already done since the launch of the original strategy in 2019, with a particular focus on:
- labour gaps and instability
- investment attraction and destination development
- long-term economic growth across the country
Have Your Say
Tourism HR Canada and its national and regional partners strongly encourage tourism stakeholders from all industries, all communities, and all sizes of business to share key issues impacting the sector. A clear, coordinated approach that encompasses the full spectrum of Canada’s visitor economy will show how decisive and urgent action is vital to tourism’s full recovery and ongoing growth—contributing billions to the overall economy and employing millions of Canadians.
For key messaging or statistics on labour issues, such as those highlighted below, email info@tourismhr.ca.
To share your views on how Canada can build on its reputation as a world-class destination, please visit the New Federal Tourism Growth Strategy website or send an email to tourisminfo-tourismeinfo@ised-isde.gc.ca. The deadline for submitting feedback is 11:59 pm (ET) on August 3, 2022.