Tourism Week Begins Today: Take the Pledge to Vacation in Canada This Summer
May 23, 2021 Jim Byers
It’s the first day of Tourism Week in Canada, which makes it a great time to reflect on a vital provider of jobs to so many Canadians.
One in ten jobs in this country are in the tourism/travel field. Many of those jobs are held by women, recent immigrants and students. Yet tourism seldom gets the attention showered on so many other government ministries.
Tourism and hospitality have been hit harder than any other sector of our economy during the pandemic, and experts say these will be the last types of businesses to recover.
Destination Canada and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada are asking Canadians to take the 2021 Tourism Pledge to Travel In Canada when restrictions are lifted, which is happening already in some provinces and due to happen soon in many others.
“Tourism Week is a great time to renew our focus on all the great Canadian tourism opportunities,” TIAC President and CEO Beth Potter said in an email to Canadian Travel News. ” As the hardest hit industry, we are asking all Canadians to pledge to travel in Canada first (once restrictions are lifted) – a great way to get to know your country better, and to help revive Canada’s visitor economy.”
“I pledge to travel in Canada first!”
“From baristas and brewers to designers and festival directors to historians and hotel owners, the richness of our diversity—and the heartbeat of this country—can all be found in Canada’s tourism industry,” said Destination Canada president and CEO Marsha Walden. “Tourism week is a great opportunity to remind Canadians about the impact of our industry—supporting tourism means enhancing the quality of life for all Canadians.
“Despite the enormous challenges faced by the sector, we have a resilient industry that is ready to welcome Canadians back into our hotels, airplanes, tour buses, museums, restaurants, and beyond, once restrictions are lifted.”
Walden this week said Canadians can do a great deal to keep the industry alive by diverting two-thirds of the money they’d put aside for international travel and spending it in Canada this year. That could speed the tourism and travel industry’s recovery by a full year and protect 150,000 jobs around the country, she said.
“In these most difficult of times for the tourism industry, tourism week is a timely reminder of the incredible tourism experiences available in Ontario and across Canada,” said Chris Bloore, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario. “In every corner of our province, our members are ready to welcome visitors back with open arms when government restrictions are lifted.”
Walden said Canadians should try to be guiding lights.
“Canada, and all travel globally, needs to have those adventuresome few that get out there first, get on airplane first, travel to another province first. And once you are that leading or early adopter of new travel experiences, you’ll be able to share just how ready our industry is and share that with your family and friends and colleagues so they can see the industry is ready to host Canadians and the world.”
For more information, visit www.tourismcounts.ca.
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