Tourism HR Canada took part in several Tourism Week 2023 festivities and events in Ottawa, joining tourism colleagues and government officials from across the country in celebrating tourism as a key economic driver and employer, as well as its vital role in inclusion, diversity, and reconciliation.
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) hosted a kick-off press conference at the Shaw Centre on April 24, with inspiring statements from the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, MP Rachel Bendayan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, Beth Potter, President and CEO, TIAC, and Nina Kressler, President and CEO, Shaw Centre Ottawa. The evening saw hundreds gather for an opening reception centred on the week’s theme, Canada: Powered by Tourism.
On April 25, Destination Canada hosted the inaugural National Tourism Sector Associations Meeting, a gathering of representatives from 30 leading Canadian tourism-related associations. The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, joined the event, and emphasized all that Canada has to offer the world’s travellers, and the positive impact tourism has on every corner of the country.
Destination Canada described the importance of the event and tourism as a whole:
The meeting provided an opportunity for our industry to unify efforts and harness the power of our collective action to drive forward Canada’s hosting economy. Attendees contributed their expertise and insights to build an ambitious strategy that will help Canada become, once again, one of the world’s most competitive destinations.
As we look to the future, tourism in Canada has the potential to generate more than $142 billion by 2030 – representing a 30 percent growth over the course of the next decade. This is a staggering opportunity for our country, the tourism industry, and businesses across every sub-sector – but to get there, we need to keep Canada at the forefront of travellers’ minds. To start, that means shifting traveller expectations and addressing looming capacity challenges, as well as improving the performance of our marketing investments.
Tourism HR Canada thanks TIAC and Destination Canada for their tremendous work in bringing tourism stakeholders together and ensuring Canada’s tourism sector is proudly—and loudly—celebrated.