May 23, 2021 (Ottawa) – Tourism Week in Canada is here, and tourism stakeholders across the country are looking forward to the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel.

 

They are doing so with the knowledge that 80% of Canadians plan to travel as restrictions are relaxed, and with the hope that those trips will be in Canada.

 

Tourism Week, organized by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), presents a compelling reason to holiday within Canadian borders. And if a trip to discover Canada’s innumerable attractions isn’t reason enough to travel domestically, then TIAC and Destination Canada have an even stronger argument.

 

That is, Canadians who choose to vacation within their own country – instead of international destinations – will be doing their part to support the domestic travel and tourism industries, which have been damaged by the economic effects of the pandemic.

 

One in every 10 Canadian jobs is tied to tourism, leaving many people in an economic struggle while pandemic regulations restrict or prohibit travel. This situation has created a ripple effect across the entire job market, impacting the quality of life and well-being of numerous Canadians.

 

That’s why a special pledge to support tourism in Canada has been created by TIAC. It will serve to help drive more domestic tourism business to Canadian travel firms.

 

“We are calling on Canadians to take the 2021 Tourism Pledge to travel in Canada, when restrictions are lifted,” says Beth Potter, the President and CEO of TIAC. This is an invitation to come together as a country and support our local tourism destinations, businesses and employees.” 

 

If Canadian consumers decided to shift two-thirds of their planned international holiday expenditures towards domestic tourism, it would make up for the estimated $19 billion shortfall currently facing the visitor economy, per a recent report by Destination Canada. It would also help sustain 150,000 jobs and accelerate the recovery of the travel/tourism sector by one year.

 

"We understand that everyone is eager for some much-needed vacation time and we are calling on Canadians to plan their future travel within Canada," says Marsha Walden, President and Chief Executive Officer, Destination Canada.

 

Because of the pandemic, many people in the labour market will be forced to miss out on valuable career opportunities – including possibly their first jobs, she said. And it’s not just tourism firms encountering hardship, but also the companies that operate as their suppliers.

 

To download the 2021 Tourism Pledge and read how Tourism Counts across Canada, visit tourismcounts.ca or #TourismCounts social media gateway for Tourism Week.

 

Through Tourism Week, industry stakeholders are encouraged to share the message, embrace the campaign, and use resources available at TourismCounts.ca, as well as host media events and distribute press releases highlighting their region, destination and their industry members’ contribution to Canada’s Tourism ecosystem.