TOURISM MONTH JUNE 2005
FACT SHEET
Information supplied by the Travel Industry Association of Canada (TIAC)
Canadian Tourism Facts and Figures
Tourism contributes significantly to Canada's economy, its standard
of living as a nation, and the quality of life of all Canadians. While
its contribution is not entirely quantifiable, numbers do tell part of
the story:
A Diverse Industry
• Canada's tourism industry is made up of businesses involved in
getting people into, around and out of the country, and in meeting their
needs for a wide range of products, services and experiences while they
are here. The 400eleven.com web site has more than 100 members promoting
travel and tourism vacation packages
north of Toronto.
• Canada's 188,000 tourism-related businesses operate in eight key
sectors: accommodations; transportation; festivals and events; attractions;
food and beverage (hospitality) services; tourism services; travel trade
(retailers and wholesalers); and travel media. The 400eleven membership
has representation in most of these sectors including
• Tourism businesses operate in communities large and small, in
every province and territory. The Highway 400 and Higway 11 corridors
included smaller rural and resort destinations
north of Toronto. Most members are in a large geographic tourism area
from York Region on Lake Simcoe, to James Bay in the north. From the Ottawa
Valley in the East, to Sault Ste. Marie in the North west.
• The Canadian tourism industry includes large, even multinational,
companies, but the majority are small and medium-sized enterprises. 88.8%
have fewer than 20 employees, 10.2% have 20-100 employees, and just 1%
have more than 100 employees. 90.6% have annual revenues of less than
$1 million.
A Key Economic Sector
• Tourism is a $55 billion industry. That's the amount spent in
Canada in 2004 alone by business and leisure travellers.
• About a third of total tourism expenditures are made here by foreign
travellers (almost 39 million non-resident travellers entered Canada last
year), making tourism an important export industry.
• In 2003, total tourism Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached $23.5
billion or 2% of Canada's GDP.
A Source of Government Revenue
• Canada's tourism industry generates significant tax revenues,
estimated at more than $15
billion a year. Of this amount, $7.5 billion goes to the federal government,
$6.9 billion to the
provinces/territories and $900 million to municipalities.
• Tourism-generated taxes support a range of economic development
and social programs,
including health care and education, at the federal, provincial/territorial
and municipal levels.
Major Employer
• In 2004, Canadian tourism businesses employed 583,400 people directly.
• A million more depend on the sector indirectly for their livelihood.
• Those jobs provide vital incomes for individuals and families,
and are the economic lifeblood of entire communities. Tourism is a major
employer in the 400 Eleven corridor.
An international force
• Canada ranks 10th among the world's most popular destinations
for international travel.
• Canada has 2.5% of the world's tourism market share.
• Based on international tourism receipts, Canada ranks 12th in
the world.
No wonder tourism makes Canada smile!
Current press release on Tourism Month contests and information go to
www.400eleven.com/pr-tourism-month.html
For More Information about Tourism Industry Association of Canada
Go To http://www.tiac-aitc.ca/
|
